Police alert over camera firebomb

Police have launched a nationwide alert after a home made explosive was found strapped to a speed camera in Staffordshire.

Officers were called by maintenance workers, who had removed the device from a camera on the A5 on the approach to junction 12 of the M6.

A spokesman for Staffs police said: ” Detectives are working on the theory that it was designed to cause fire damage to the camera, but the potential consequences could have been much worse.

” If it had been activated unexpectedly someone could have been badly hurt, that’s why we’re treating this so seriously. It was mindless beyond belief.

” We have informed other forces in the country and advised all police and civilian workers who work with safety cameras. ”