A 31-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of terror offences by police who allegedly seized ‘dirty bomb’ explosives and radioactive material from a garden shed as they swooped in.
The unnamed man was cuffed by Bedfordshire Police cops on suspicion of causing explosions and possessing Class A drugs following searches at a property on Hyde Road, Caddington, Bedfordshire which they began searching on May 6.
Reports suggest the suspect lives there with his parents and is described as a ‘loner with Asperger’s Syndrome’, a form of autism. He was bailed following his first arrest – but further searches discovered further ‘suspicious substances’.
The operation was then passed to Metropolitan Police counter-terror officers and the man was arrested again on suspicion of possessing articles for terrorist purposes. He remains in police custody.
A meeting was held at a community centre in Caddington on Tuesday where locals were told investigations were ‘chemical-related’. Investigators reportedly found Nazi memorabilia in their searches.
Police and ambulance crews on Hyde Road in Caddington, where ‘dirty bomb’ explosive materials were allegedly found earlier this month
A 31-year-old man was arrested, bailed and later re-arrested on suspicion of a terrorism offence
Bedfordshire Police carried out searches at the property before passing the operation to the Metropolitan Police’s counter-terror command earlier this week
The incident has been the talk of the town amongst locals in the area, who have wondered exactly what has been happening on Hyde Road after it was swarmed with emergency vehicles last week.
Bedfordshire Police would initially say that a man had been arrested after receiving ‘reports of suspicious substances’ being stored at the address.
Specialist investigators were then called in and a ‘small, controlled explosion’ was carried out in a nearby field by explosive ordnance disposal crews.
It then said earlier this week, prior to the suspect being arrested again, that a ‘considerable number of different items’ had been found.
Reports in The Sun, which first reported the suspect’s background, suggest investigators dressed in hazmat suits wielding Geiger counters – used to measure radioactivity – have been seen coming and going from the property.
Locals said the arrested man was a loner who rarely went outside – and if he did, would venture out with a hood up covering his face.
His mother had allegedly told villagers he collected chemicals as a hobby – adding that she was ‘adamant it was nothing to do with terrorism’.
Bedfordshire Police said: ‘We can confirm we are working with SO15, the Metropolitan Police’s Counter Terrorism Command, which has taken over the investigation.’
The Met said in a statement released on Tuesday night that it did not believe there was any further risk to local residents or the wider public.
It said: ‘A man from Bedfordshire has been arrested on suspicion of a terrorism offence as part of an investigation being led by officers from the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command.
‘The arrest comes after an investigation was initially launched by Bedfordshire Police on 6 May when items, including a number of suspicious substances, were found at a residential address in Caddington.
‘Specialist officers continue to carry out searches at the address in Caddington. A number of items and substances have been recovered from the address.
‘Officers continue to work closely with colleagues from Bedfordshire Police and the Eastern Region Special Operations Unit (ERSOU) as the investigation continues.’