More Letter Bombs Received by Britons; Police Question Sternist Claim of Responsibiltty

Scotland Yard reported today that nine more “Letter ##bs” have been intercepted, bringing to 20 the total of explosive envelopes sent ## far to present and former members of the government and military leaders, including Prime Minister Attlee, Former Premier Winston Churchill, Foreign Minister Bevin and Peputy Prime Minister Herbert Morrison.

The Stern Gang, which last night anounced in a communique issued in Tel Aviv, that its European representatives were responsible for mailing the bombs, asserted that several had exploded, injuring the addressees, but Scotland Yard was keeping the news secret. However, Yard spokesman denied the claim.

The spokesman said that an exhaustive investigation into the origin of the letters was being conducted in Italy, around Turin and Milan, and despite the Sternist claim of responsiblity, the police have no evidence as yet linking them with the bombs. He recalled that the Sternists asserted that they were responsible for an explosion in the Colonies Club here several months ago, but the Yard still lists the blast as an accident. The spokesman expressed confidence that no terrorist agents were in England.

It is understood that Scotland Yard has called in Richard Catling, assistant chief of the Criminal Investigation Department in Palestine, who is now on leave here, to assist them. Catling, who is allegedly on the Stern Group’s “public enemy” list, is reputedly an expert on terrorist activities.

Although most of the explosive-laden letters went to persons directly or indirectly connected with the Palestine issue, some were addressed to members of the government with no connection with Palestine affairs. It is thought that the terrorists were aiming at all top policy-making officials.