Cash Machine Blown Up in South Ealing Raid

Flying Squad investigating after Post Office ATM attack

A cash machine was blown up in a raid at the Post Office on South Ealing Road this morning.

Police were called at 0543hrs (Tuesday, 18 November) to reports of an ATM gas attack.

On arrival officers discovered a smashed window and damage to the cash machine.

Two men wearing dark clothing and hooded tops were seen getting into a black car after the explosion and driving off in the direction of the A4.

Officers from the Flying Squad are investigating.

There have been no arrests and police say their enquiries are ongoing.

Last Friday police were called to Sainsbury's Local in Gunnersbury Lane, Acton following reports of a gas attack on the ATM. Two men were reported getting into a silver car and driving off shortly after the explosion. Around 15 minutes later a similar incident happened at the Co Op in Isleworth.

Explosive attacks on ATMs is a form of bank burglary that has been common in Europe and becoming increasingly more so in the UK.

In a recent court hearing in Kent a gang of bank robbers who used gas to blow up a cash machine at a bank had their sentences increased.

Attorney General Jeremy Wright QC MP, argued:

''Using gas canisters to cause an explosion is dangerous and volatile.We have seen the number of these attacks increase substantially in Europe in the last eight to nine years, but they have only recently been seen in the UK.'' 

18th November 2014