Specialist police officers searching a house in Bedfordshire have confirmed "radiological material" has been discovered inside a home at the centre of a counter terrorism probe.
Bedfordshire Police launched a probe on May 6 after a “number of suspicious substances” were found at a house in Caddington. Among them were “very small traces of radiological material”. It was later confirmed a 31-year-old man was arrested on Tuesday on suspicion of a terrorism offence and is still in police custody.
Police say there is no risk to the public. Commander Dominic Murphy, head of the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command, said: “We’re aware of some media reports and speculation which has suggested a ‘dirty bomb’-type device or materials may have been identified.
"I want to reassure the local community and the wider public we have found no evidence any form of ‘dirty bomb’ has been or was being constructed, nor any evidence one was being planned. As we’ve said previously, we have found a number of suspicious substances at the address in Caddington. Our priority at all times has been public safety – particularly in relation to other residents living nearby.
Investigations at the house are ongoing as police moved to reassure the public (Marcin Nowak/LNP)“We have had support from highly trained, specialist officers who have been helping us to identify and recover items and substances in the safest possible way, so as not to put those who are searching the property, nor those living in the area, at any risk. During the searches over the past few days, some very small traces of radiological material have been detected.
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“I want to stress at no stage was it identified as being at a level that would pose any kind of risk or harm to the public.I can also reassure the community further inquiries and analysis has confirmed the substances containing these traces are found in everyday use – such as material found in smoke alarms, or those historically used in paints for luminescent watch dials.
“Specialist officers continue to search the property, and we continue to monitor this extremely closely to ensure that there continues to be no risk to the public. Finally, I’d like to thank the local community for their continued support and understanding while this investigation remains ongoing.”
The man was first arrested and bailed on suspicion of causing explosions likely to endanger life and possession of class A drugs. After further searches of the property on Hyde Road the investigation was passed to the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command on Monday May 13.
The Met said the items discovered are being safely identified and removed by specialist officers. It was previously reported an ordnance disposal team had carried out a “controlled explosion” at the site.
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