Women injured as third bomb in three days goes off in UK

A parcel bomb exploded and injured three women at Britain's driver and vehicle licensing agency yesterday, the third parcel bomb to injure office workers in as many days at sites connected with cars and traffic regulations.

The Association of Chief Police Officers said that seven such devices had been mailed in the past three weeks, causing minor injuries to six people. The group did not say whether they believed all the devices were part of a single campaign.

"The packages received so far have caused minor injuries, but could have been more serious," said Assistant Chief Constable Anton Setchell, who is the national coordinator for domestic extremism.

Bomb experts destroyed another suspicious package in a controlled explosion in Portsmouth yesterday morning, Hampshire police said.

"At this stage it is not being linked to any of the postal bombs across the UK," spokeswoman Sally Evans said.

She gave no details about where the suspicious package was found.

Yesterday's uncontrolled explosion occurred at the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) in Swansea.

"One woman has sustained minor burns and two other women have sustained hearing related injuries," a police statement said.

The DVLA office in Swansea processes drivers' licenses and vehicle registrations.