British military personnel have been warned to be vigilant after it was claimed that an ‘IRA’ parcel bomb sent to a military recruitment officer has not yet been found.
The device is believed to be one of five bombs posted to commercial and British army targets in England and Scotland last week.
Four of the devices have been discovered while it is believed one remains undetected.
In a statement to the Irish News this week the ‘IRA’ - sometimes referred to as the New IRA - said two of the bombs have been sent to British recruitment officers - including one who works at the University of Glasgow.
Police Scotland later said a controlled explosion was carried out as a precaution on a suspicious package found in the mailroom at the university last week.
The remaining three parcel bombs were discovered at Heathrow Airport, London City Airport and Waterloo train station.
The devices were sent in A4-sized postal bags, which contained yellow padded envelopes.
The bomb sent to Heathrow Airport burst into flames when opened, while the other two were dealt with by the British army bomb squad.
The ‘IRA’ has claimed all five devices contained explosives.
In a joint statement issued yesterday the Metropolitan Police and Police Scotland said military personnel have been warned to remain on their guard.
“Extensive advice has already been issued to relevant businesses and sectors to be vigilant for and report suspicious packages to police,” it said.
“This advice was previously sent to armed forces personnel and is being reiterated again in light of this claim.”
Police also urged members of the public “to remain vigilant”.
The statement confirmed that to date “only four devices have been recovered”.
Irish justice minister Charlie Flanagan said he has been in touch with the British Home Secretary Sajid Javid about the development.
"I was deeply concerned to learn of the further developments in the investigation into the incendiary devices which were posted to addresses in the United Kingdom last week," he said.
"They are the actions of those who are without any vision for a peaceful future on Northern Ireland.
"I reaffirmed to the Home Secretary our deep commitment to working closely with our colleagues in Northern Ireland and the United Kingdom."
The senders' addresses were given as Dublin, with two having adding coach operator Bus Eireann.
The stamps appeared to be those issued by the Irish postal service for Valentine's Day 2018, featuring a heart motif and the words "Love Eire N".
The IRA has previously targeted British army recruitment centres.
In February 2014 it said it sent devices to seven military recruitment offices across the south east of England.
None of the devices exploded.
