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Ex-Royal Marine gets 18 years for stockpiling terrorism components

Published on: 8 Aug 2017

Ex-Royal Marine gets 18 years for stockpiling terrorism components

A former Royal Marine has been jailed for stockpiling and manufacturing large amounts of explosives, weapons and ammunition to be used to commit terrorist acts.

 

Devon-born Ciaran Maxwell, aged 31, was sentenced to 18 years' imprisonment at the Old Bailey on July 31st after pleading guilty to engaging in conduct in preparation of terrorist acts.

 

His malicious intentions were discovered when members of the public noticed suspicious items hidden in woodland in Northern Ireland and reported it to police.

 

Officers searched the woods in March 2016 and found two barrels buried in the ground containing all the components needed to make improvised explosive devices (IEDs). Also discovered were hand-written notes and 'to-do' lists detailing items Mr Maxwell needed to buy and tasks he was carrying out relating to the manufacture and storage of IEDs.

 

In May and again in August, another three buried barrels were uncovered, containing more components for building IEDs, as well as two anti-personnel mines, pipe bombs, a handgun and ammunition.

 

Forensic evidence linked Maxwell to the items recovered from the sites, but as Mr Maxwell was working as a Royal Marine at a Somerset military base and lived in Devon, it was suspected that other people were helping Mr Maxwell and the investigation was widened.

 

Mr Maxwell has never stated what his motivation was and despite having some links to violent dissident republicans, he largely acted alone.

 

Commander Dean Haydon, head of the Met's Counter Terrorism Command, said: “An extremely dangerous terrorist has been caught, and a significant and substantial amount of explosives and weapons have been seized - all thanks to members of the public.

 

“This case shows what an important role the public has in fighting terrorism and how police and security services rely on the eyes and ears of the public to help us tackle the threats we all face.”