Letterbomb suspect held

A 32-year-old man being hunted over a series of letter bombs posted to homes across England was arrested yesterday morning.

A 32-year-old man being hunted over a series of letter bombs posted to homes across England was arrested yesterday morning.

Justin McAuliffe was arrested on the A6 Bedford to Luton road yesterday morning in the village of Wilstead.

He went missing from his Bedford bedsit at the beginning of this month and was named as the man thought to be responsible for a campaign of dangerous letters that were sent to 33 houses across Essex, Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, Lancashire and London.

The suspect was spotted by a civilian worker from Bedfordshire Police yesterday as she drove to work. He was being questioned at Luton police station.

A total of 33 improvised explosive devices have been posted since 3 September to addresses in Blackpool, Colchester, Luton and Harpenden, Hertfordshire. Two of the packages were received by Mr McAuliffe's brothers.