ABBEY; WRITING ON WALL; DAMAGED TOMB; POLICEMEN; BURNT TAPESTRY; ABBEY STAFF.




Initials GS/BBC/CR/OS



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Background: A 23-YEAR-OLD THEOLOGY STUDENT WAS CHARGED IN LONDON TOADY (THURSDAY) AFTER A FIRE BOMB WAS THROWN IN HISTORIC WESTMINSTER ABBEY.

THE FIRE BOMB WAS A PLASTIC BAG CONTAINING FUEL. IT WAS THROWN AT A TOMB NEAR THE ABBEY'S HIGH ALTAR JUST AFTER 8 A.M. FLAMES DAMAGED A TAPESTRY AND A DIAGRAM ON THE STONE OF THE LAYOUT OF THE TOMB OF EDWARD THE CONFESSOR, THE 11TH CENTURY ENGLISH KING WHO FOUNDED THE ABBEY.

STAFF AT THE ABBEY PUT OUT THE FIRE WITH EXTINGUISHERS. MANY OF THE EXTERIOR WALLS OF THE HISTORIC BUILDING WERE FOUND TO BE DAUBED WITH SLOGANS. TWO CLEANERS, MRS. RUBY BODDY, AND MR. LESLIE CHAPPELL, CAUGHT THE BOMB THROWER AND HELD HIM UNTIL POLICE ARRIVED. THE STUDENT WAS CHARGED WITH MALICIOUSLY SETTING FIRE TO A PLACE OF WORSHIP.