Article: Bomb attack on inner city rail station

[ozbob]

From the Brisbanetimes click here!

Bomb attack on inner city rail station

Bomb attack on inner city rail station
January 23, 2009 - 6:48AM

An explosion at Rushall railway station in Melbourne's inner north is causing delays for commuters this morning.

Police said someone appeared to have attempted to gain access to a ticket vending machine using a small explosive device at the station, at Fitzroy North.

Connex spokesman John Rees said trains were still running on the Epping line, but with a bus shuttle between Rushall and Clifton Hill stations.

He estimated thousands of dollars damage to the ticket machine.

The attack is the latest in a string of problems for rail operator Connex, which has been under commuter fire for heat and maintenance-related train delays and cancellations.

Police said this morning's blast, about 3.30am, was heard up to 200 metres away.

When police arrived a small fire was burning inside a stand-alone ticket machine, on the city-bound platform.

Police believe those responsible placed the device inside the machine, and then detonated it.

The internals of the machine were destroyed, but the steel frame remains intact.

The police bomb response unit is at the scene.

No commuters were at the station at the time of the incident.

Police are yet to view any video footage and it is unknown whether or not any money was stolen from the machine.

[ozbob]

From the Herald Sun click here!
Hope CCTV footage can help catch ticket machine bombers


http://www.news.com.au/common/imagedata/0,,6453667,00.jpg

Hope CCTV footage can help catch ticket machine bombers
Article from: Herald Sun

Aaron Langmaid, Alice Coster

January 23, 2009 06:17am

UPDATE 11.04am: INVESTIGATORS are confident CCTV footage will help catch those responsible for bombing a train station ticket machine today.
The explosion caused tens of thousands dollars' damage and delayed trains on the Epping line for most of the morning.

The steel frame of the ticket machine remained intact, but the internal workings were destroyed, as was a card reader.

Police believe those responsible placed the device inside the machine, and then detonated it.

The internals of the machine were destroyed, but the steel frame remains intact.

"The ticket machine itself is still intact. They have created a hole or cavity at the top where they have entered something in it, causing the explosion or fire," acting Sgt Matt Bell said.

Rushall station remained closed this morning while bomb squad officers checked the area for explosives and a forensic team examined the scene.

A local resident called police about the explosion, telling them her windows had shaken with the force of the blast.

"We got a call for several explosions around 3.30,'' acting Sgt Bell said.

"She lived 200 metres away from the train station so we were extremely concerned as to whether it was actually a bomb.''

Dozens of early-morning commuters had to find other ways to get to work because of the explosion.

About 36 train services on the Epping Line were affected by the delays.

Arson and explosive Squad Det Acting Sgt Adam Henry said the damage was significant.

"From my experience this is an amateur attempt,'' he said.

Connex spokesman John Rees said the incident was a step up for vandals.

"We get vandalism acts all the time but this is something else, a step up in the level of vandalism we would see.

"This appears to be an attack for the sake of causing damage and not much more.

"We haven't seen an attack like this.

"To go out of your way like this, to premeditate like this, is something we are not used to seeing and hopefully we won't get used to seeing.

"We would like to see them caught and the full force of the law is brought against them.''

Michael Moo, 63, of North Fitzroy, was shocked after finding out what had happened.

"Jesus, I won't be able to get to work today," Mr Moo said. "Sounds like some crazy silly kids."

The train delays continued a dismal week for Connex, which has had to cancel dozens of trains for a variety of reasons.