A 31-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of terror offenses by police who allegedly seized 'dirty bomb' explosives and radioactive material from a garden shed as they flew in.
The unnamed man was handcuffed by officers from Bedfordshire Police on suspicion of causing explosions and possessing class A drugs following searches at a property in Hyde Road, Caddington, Bedfordshire, where they began searching on May 6.
Reports indicate the suspect lives there with his parents and is described as a “loner with Asperger syndrome,” a form of autism. After his initial arrest he was released on bail, but further searches revealed further 'suspicious substances'.
The operation was then passed on to metropolitan police counter-terrorism officers and the man was re-arrested on suspicion of possessing items for terrorist purposes. He remains in police custody.
A meeting was held at a community center in Caddington on Tuesday, where locals were told the investigations were 'chemically related'. Investigators are said to have found Nazi memorabilia during their searches.
Police and ambulance crews on Hyde Road in Caddington, where 'dirty bomb' explosive material was allegedly found earlier this month
A 31-year-old man was arrested, released on bail and later rearrested on suspicion of a terrorism offence
Bedfordshire Police carried out searches of the property before handing the operation over to the Metropolitan Police's Counter Terrorism Command earlier this week.
The incident has been the talk of the town among locals in the area, who have been wondering what exactly happened on Hyde Road after it was flooded with emergency vehicles last week.
Bedfordshire Police initially said 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 bomb squad crews.
Then earlier this week, before the suspect was arrested again, it was reported that a 'significant number of various items' had been found.
Reports in The sunwhich first reported the suspect's background, suggests that investigators dressed in hazmat suits with Geiger counters – used to measure radioactivity – entered and left the premises.
Locals said the arrested man was a loner who rarely went outside – and when he did, he would venture out with a hood over his face.
His mother reportedly told villagers that he collected chemicals as a hobby, adding that she was “convinced it had nothing to do with terrorism.”
Bedfordshire Police said: 'We can confirm that we are working with SO15, the Metropolitan Police's Counter Terrorism Command, who have taken over the investigation.'
The Met said in a statement on Tuesday evening that it did not believe there was any further risk to local residents or the general public.
It said: 'A man from Bedfordshire has been arrested on suspicion of a terrorist offense as part of an investigation led by officers from the Met's Counter Terrorism Command.
'The arrest comes after an investigation was launched by Bedfordshire Police on May 6 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 Caddington address. A number of items and substances were found at the address.
'Officers continue to work closely with colleagues from Bedfordshire Police and the Eastern Region Special Operations Unit (ERSOU) as investigations continue.'