Teen bomb suspect charged
2004-04-06 22:32
London - British police on Tuesday charged one of nine men detained in a series of anti-terror raids last week in connection with an apparent plot to build a powerful bomb.
The 17-year-old has been charged with "conspiracy to cause explosions" and "with intent to injure or damage property", said a Scotland Yard spokesperson.
Nine men, aged 17 to 32, all British citizens who are reportedly mostly of Pakistani descent, were taken into custody last week when 700 police raided 24 locations in and around London.
None of the other eight have yet been charged.
The teenager, arrested last Tuesday along with seven of the other eight suspects, will appear on Wednesday at central London's Bow Street court, which will be sitting as a youth court.
Netted half a ton of ammonium nitrate
He had been due to be held until Tuesday evening, while the time for police to quiz the other eight suspects runs out on Thursday evening, according to Scotland Yard.
Under British anti-terrorism laws, police can apply for a series of extensions to detain suspects for questioning for up to 14 days without charge.
The main raids on Tuesday last week netted half a ton of ammonium nitrate fertiliser that could be used to make explosives.
Experts say the easy-to-buy fertiliser, discovered at a 24-hour self-service warehouse in west London, could have made a devastating bomb if combined with a "booster" such as Semtex, a plastic explosive.