Royal Marine charged with terrorism offences

A man has been charged with terrorism offences and is appearing at Westminster Magistrates Court this afternoon (2 September 2016).

Ciaran Maxwell, 30, a serving member of the British armed forces from Old Quarry Drive, Exminster has this afternoon been charged with:

Charge 1:

Between 1 January 2011 and 24 August 2016, with the intention of assisting another to commit acts of terrorism, engaged in conduct in preparation for giving effect to this intention, namely:

- Research resulting in the creation of a library of documents providing information of a kind likely to be useful likely to be useful to a person 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.

- Purchasing or otherwise obtaining articles for a purpose connected with the commission, preparation or instigation of an act of terrorism. Specifically chemicals and components to be use in the manufacture of explosive substances, the construction of explosive devices; an image of an adapted PSNI pass card; items of PSNI uniform.

- Manufacturing explosive substances.

- Constructing explosive devices.

- 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.

Contrary to section 5 Terrorism Act 2006

Charge 2:

On 24 August 2016 had in his possession a quantity of a controlled drug, namely Cannabis, with intent to supply it to another.

Contrary to section 5(3) and (4) of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971

Charge 3:

Between 1 November 2015 and 24 August 2016 had in his possession articles, namely images of bank cards and associated CVC numbers, for use in connection with fraud.

Contrary to section 6 Fraud Act 2006

Ciaran Maxwell is remanded in custody and is now being taken to appear at Westminster Magistrates Court.

He was arrested on Wednesday 24 September by officers from the Metropolitan Police Service's Counter Terrorism Command (SO15), supported by colleagues from Avon and Somerset and Devon and Cornwall Police.

Property searches in Exminster are now complete, searches at Powderham New Plantation will continue into next week and localised road closures will remain in place.

PSNI searches in Larne are ongoing at this time.

All involved with this investigation would like to thank those who have been inconvenienced by the searches for their patience.