South African bombing is echoed in London hoax

A bomb hoax forced the evacuation of the Planet Hollywood restaurant in London's Piccadilly last week. The alert took place on the same day the chain's South African franchise was bombed, apparently as an act of revenge for the US air strikes against Islamic terrorist targets in Sudan and Afghanistan.

A spokeswoman said the London restaurant, which can hold 700 people, was evacuated with little fuss between 8pm and 9pm on 25 August.

But the hurling of an explosive device, believed to be a pipe bomb, through the front door of the franchise sited along Cape Town's waterfront tourist centre caused one death and up to 30 injuries.

An Islamic extremist group calling itself Muslims Against Global Oppression immediately claimed responsibility for the outrage, although this statement was later denied.