Sabotage fears as London stock platform crashes

The London Stock Exchange has delayed a major update of its computer systems after fears one its trading platforms was targeted by a saboteur.

Reports suggest the FSA and the police have been called in to investigate the "suspicious circumstances" surrounding the LSE's high frequency Turquoise trading platform, which stopped trading for two hours yesterday.

The LSE is upgrading its systems to fend off competition from other platforms and to retain and build on its majority share of FTSE 100 trading.

"Investigations into this morning's trading disruption on London Stock Exchange's pan-European MTF, Turquoise, have revealed that human error was to blame for the disruption. The issue was swiftly isolated," the group says.

"Preliminary investigations indicate that this human error may have occurred in suspicious circumstances.

"The LSE take this matter very seriously and a full internal investigation has now begun. The relevant authorities have been informed."

The group says it will now postpone its main market LSE technology migration.