London (CNN) Three improvised explosive devices were found near major London transport hubs on Tuesday, in what police are treating as linked incidents. The Metropolitan Police's counter-terrorism command unit has launched an investigation into the devices, which were sent in small packages to buildings at or near Heathrow Airport, London City Airport and Waterloo train station. All the devices were judged to be viable, and in one instance, the package burst into flames when staff opened it. No one was hurt. The Irish police are also assisting with the investigation, a spokesperson for An Garda Siochana, Ireland's national police force, told CNN. British and Irish news outlets reported that at least two of the packages had Irish stamps. The Metropolitan Police said that the incidents appeared to be part of a "linked series." Officers were keeping an "open mind" about motive, police said. Read More<doc-sep>London police are investigating after explosive devices were found at two of the city's airports and a train station. Police said in a statement that three packages containing explosives were found separately at Heathrow Airport, London City Airport and Waterloo station. ADVERTISEMENT The small improvised devices were found in postal mailers, and appeared to be capable of "igniting an initially small fire when opened," police said. Nobody was hurt as a result of the devices, which police are treating as a "linked series." No flights or trains were affected by the discovery of the devices, police said. An office building at Heathrow was evacuated after a package was discovered there. Police cordoned off part of Waterloo station upon finding another package, and staff members evacuated an area of London City Airport when a device was found there. London City Airport tweeted shortly before noon EST that all 100 staff members who had been evacuated had returned to their posts safely.<doc-sep>Three packages rigged as improvised explosive devices, one of which ignited, were found Tuesday near two London airports and a rail station. Officers discovered that the three postal bags were small IEDs, which appeared "capable of igniting an initially small fire when opened," according to the Met Police Counter Terrorism Command. Investigators said they are "treating the incidents as a linked series." Photos obtained by Sky News are said to show two of the three packages found in London on March 5 that were rigged as improvised explosive devices. Photos have not been independently verified by NBC News. Obtained by Sky News The Metropolitan Police received the first report of a suspicious package at Heathrow Airport's administrative Compass Centre. Staff at the building had opened the package, and the device ignited and burned a part of the bag, police said. No one was injured but the building was evacuated, according to police. No flights were affected. The second package, which was not opened, was reported from a post room at the Waterloo rail station. The station was evacuated and the package was rendered safe by specialists, according to police. Trains operated normally. The third package, found at City Aviation House near London City Airport, also wasn't opened. The building was evacuated and the package was rendered safe, according to police. Flights were not affected, but Docklands Light Railway services to the airport were briefly interrupted. Photos of the packages, which have not been independently verified by NBC News, appear to show Irish postage. Police in Dublin told NBC News that they are assisting in the investigation into the packages. No arrests have been made, and police encouraged people at travel hubs to be vigilant and report any suspicious packages.<doc-sep>NEW A vastly improved search engine helps you find the latest on companies, business leaders, and news more easily.<doc-sep>
Counterterrorism police in the United Kingdom are investigating three packages containing explosives that were discovered Tuesday near three major transportation hubs in London: Heathrow Airport, London City Airport, and Waterloo Station. The Metropolitan Police Service’s Counter Terrorism Command said the “small improvised explosive devices,” which were found inside small postal bags, “appear capable of igniting an initially small fire when opened.” As of now, no one has been injured by the devices. An investigation is underway with help from Irish police, and authorities are already treating the incidents as “linked.” London’s Mayor Sadiq Khan tweeted that “transport services continue to operate as normal,” although he asked people to remain vigilant. It’s unclear as of now who planted the explosives or why, although police said they’re “keeping an open mind regarding motives.” We're treating the incidents as a linked series & keeping an open mind regarding motives. Flights at Heathrow & City Airport have not been effected. Train services at Waterloo Station continue to operate. As a precaution, some DLR services were suspended but now fully operational — Metropolitan Police (@metpoliceuk) March 5, 2019 Timeline of the incidents According to CNN, the first package was found at Heathrow — London’s busiest airport — around 9:55 am London time on Tuesday. After staff opened the package, it “initiated” and part of it burned. Just under two hours later, police entered the mailroom of Waterloo, a major rail hub for the city’s south and west, and safely retrieved a second device, which was also inside a mail package. And 30 minutes after that, at City Aviation House — about a two-minute walk from London’s City Airport — officials found a third device and rendered it safe without opening the package. This is a developing story. We’ll update this post with more details as they become available.