Omagh teen, 16, charged with four IEDs told mother chemicals were for plants
A 16-year-old from Co Tyrone appeared at Dungannon Magistrates Court after four viable explosive devices were found at his home. He claimed chemicals bought on Amazon were for growing plants.
Omagh teenager charged with possessing four improvised explosive devices after security alert
A 16-year-old from Co Tyrone told his mother that chemicals he had ordered online for the purpose of making improvised explosive devices were actually for "fertilising plants he wanted to grow", Dungannon Magistrates Court heard on Tuesday.
TheJournal.ie reports that the teenager appeared before the court via video-link after being arrested by the PSNI under the Terrorism Act following a security alert in Omagh on 24 August.
Officers, supported by military colleagues, searched his home that day under warrant after the PSNI received information that explosive chemical precursors — potassium, nitrate, and sulphur — had been delivered to his address at the end of July.
On arrival, the defendant led police directly to his bedroom, where a significant number of items were subsequently located.
Four devices found alongside gunpowder, weapons and counterfeit cash
The search uncovered four improvised explosive devices, homemade gunpowder, a stun gun, a taser, knives, a flak jacket and a combat uniform. Officers also discovered counterfeit cash in the process of being produced, along with several bank cards.
A PSNI officer told the court that the devices were not pipe bombs but were "similar in construction" and that army technical officers had stated they "could cause injury at close range or in a confined space". She added that the devices "could be inserted into a pipe to make a more lethal weapon".
The defendant was subsequently charged with possession of the four improvised explosive devices, as well as possession of a taser and a stun gun.
Teenager interviewed four times; said he researched devices on YouTube and Telegram
Following his arrest, the defendant was taken to the Musgrave Serious Crime suite, where he was interviewed on four occasions in the presence of his solicitor.
He told officers he had purchased the chemicals via Amazon using his mother's account for £20 (€23), offering his mother the explanation that they were for plants he intended to grow.
He admitted to having made a "smoke grenade", stating he had researched this on YouTube and Telegram and had not used the dark web. He also acknowledged setting off an improvised explosive device in a park in the Omagh area in the presence of friends, describing the act as "experimentation only" driven by his "own curiosity" and said the device was of "low explosive capability".
He denied subscribing to any particular ideology. The flak jacket and knives, he said, were for "cos-play", and in a later prepared statement he maintained he did not wish to harm anyone, adding that the counterfeit currency was for "prop purposes".
PSNI cites fear of reoffending; mother unaware of activity
The PSNI officer told the court there was a "fear of reoffending" and that the teenager has "considerable knowledge of building these devices and has built a considerable number of explosives".
Police also disclosed that they had intercepted a package of acetone that had been due to be delivered to his address, which the officer said would have represented an "escalation in the explosive power of the devices".
The officer described him as "a danger to himself and to others", adding that his "behaviour could obviously lead to death or injury to himself or others".
His mother, the court heard, "was not aware that he is making these explosives within the property". The officer added that police had received contact from neighbours who had concerns about him residing in the local community, and noted there was "a risk to himself with hostile neighbours".
Bail granted at alternative address with strict conditions
Police objected to bail at the teenager's current address but agreed to bail at an alternative address. A number of electronic devices were seized from the accused as part of the proceedings.
Bail conditions set by the court include a curfew from 9pm to 7am, the wearing of an electronic tag, and a prohibition on possessing any electronic device with internet access. The PSNI stipulated that should the defendant have a mobile phone without internet access, police must be informed of the make, model and PIN.
He is also required to engage with social services and youth diversion services.
When the defendant indicated he wished to address the court directly, the judge noted that he had legal representation to speak on his behalf. His solicitor told the court the defendant was "happy to do whatever the court requires with regards bail conditions".
The defendant was informed that any breach of the conditions would result in his return to custody. An application for legal aid was also granted. The matter is next listed before Omagh court on 14 September.
Source: TheJournal.ie