Royal Marine Ciaran Maxwell charged with '˜creating hides' to store explosives

The 30-year-old from Larne, with an address at Exminster, Devon, is to appear today at Westminster Magistrates’ Court, Scotland Yard said.

It is alleged that between January 1 2011 and August 24 2016, Maxwell manufactured explosive substances and constructed explosive devices.

He is accused of carrying out research resulting in the creation of a library of documents likely to be useful to someone committing or preparing an act of terrorism - specifically information regarding “the manufacture of explosive substances, the construction of explosive devices and tactics used by terrorist organisations”.

Maxwell is charged with getting an image of an adapted Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) pass card and items of PSNI uniform.

The Metropolitan Police said he is charged with “creating and maintaining hides in England and Northern Ireland to store explosive substances, explosive devices, components for explosive devices, ammunition, weapons, tools and resources used during the construction of explosive devices and assorted other items linked to the preparation of an act of terrorism”.

A separate charge says that on August 24 2016 Maxwell had a quantity of cannabis in his possession with intent to supply.

He has also been charged with fraud and is accused of having images of bank cards and associated CVC numbers for use in connection with fraud between November 1 2015 and August 24 2016.

Maxwell was arrested on August 24 by officers from the Metropolitan Police Service’s counter terrorism command, supported by Avon and Somerset and Devon and Cornwall Police.

The Met said property searches in Exminster are now complete, while searches at New Powderham Plantation in Devon will continue into next week and localised road closures will remain in place.

PSNI searches in Larne, Co Antrim, are ongoing.