Suspicious packages bear "hallmarks of Northern Ireland related terrorism"

Suspicious packages delivered to British army career offices bear "the hallmarks of Northern Ireland related terrorism," a spokesman for the British Prime Minister's Office has said.

"Seven suspect packages have been identified as containing small, crude, but potentially viable devices bearing the hallmarks of Northern Ireland related terrorism," A spokesman for Number 10 was quoted in a BBC report as saying.

"Guidance has been issued to staff at all military establishments and Royal Mail asking them to be extra vigilant and to look out for any suspect packages and the screening procedures for mail to Armed Forces Careers offices is being reviewed," the spokesman said.

One of the suspect explosive devices sent to an armed forces recruitment office this week had a Republic of Ireland postmark, the Press Association said, citing sources.

A total of seven suspect packages have been received at army career offices in southeast England, including Oxford, Brighton, Canterbury, Aldershot, Reading, Slough and Chatham, according to a statement by the Thames Valley Police on behalf of the South East Counter Terrorism Unit (SECTU).

Prime Minister David Cameron chaired a meeting on Thursday to discuss the suspicious parcels, while British counter-terrorism police have been investigating the suspicious packages, media reports said.

Bomb disposal units have been called to deal with the packages given small but "viable" explosive devices was said to be confirmed in some of the packages.

According to SECTU, advice has also been given to the Royal Mail and to the British Ministry of Defense to ensure staff remain vigilant and contact police if they have any concerns about packages.