A teenage soldier has been arrested on suspicion of terrorism offences after a nail bomb was discovered at his house.
The 19-year-old soldier, who was stationed in Germany, has been taken into military custody arrested on suspicion of illegally possessing explosives, firearms and ammunition after the bomb was found at his home in Eccles, near Manchester. Extreme right-wing pamphlets were also reportedly discovered at his house.
The discovery of the bomb during a police raid on the soldier’s house last Friday, originally looking for abusive imagery, resulted in officers evacuating 30 residents from properties nearby for fear of an explosion.
An counter-terrorism investigation into the soldier and how he found the materials and created the bomb is being carried out by the Royal Military Police.
An Army spokesman said:
“The Royal Military Police have arrested a serving soldier on suspicion of the unlawful possession of explosives, firearms, and ammunition. He was arrested in Paderborn, Germany.
The arrest is linked to the discovery of a suspicious device in Salford on November 28. The Royal Military Police are working closely with Greater Manchester Police.”
The soldier was flown home on Monday and handed over to Greater Manchester Police (GMP).
A GMP spokesperson said:
“During a search of the property on Mellor Street a suspicious device was found. Specialist officers assessed the device and were later able to confirm it was no longer a threat to the community.
Several items of literature which could be viewed by some as potentially inflammatory were found at the address.”
