Rogue Marine hid explosives to build bombs for attacks

A ROGUE Royal Marine with links to dissident Irish republicans hoarded explosives as he plotted bomb attacks across Northern Ireland, a court heard yesterday.

Ciaran Maxwell’s arsenal included 14 pipe bombs, two homemade antipersonnel mines and caches of chemicals for making explosives.

Four of his pipe bombs were planted in Antrim and Armagh in 2013 and last year. Two detonated but no one was injured.

Maxwell, 31, who joined the Royal Marines in 2010, stashed the material in woodland hides in Devon and near his home town of Larne, Co Antrim, the Old Bailey heard.

He also built two explosively formed projectiles – capable of discharging armour piercing shrapnel.

Among the hoard, detectives found an imitation hand gun and ammunition, a forged police pass, torches rigged up as booby traps and dozens of self-made detonators and initiators, the court was told.

There were also lists of potential targets including police officers, government officials, military barracks, an Orange Order hall, Government buildings and power stations.

Maxwell, whose computer passwords were “Our day will come,” had enough material to build 19 pipe bombs.

He also had a computer library of terrorist material including bombmaking guides and a copy of an IRA manual called the Green Book.

Dissident republican groups “remain engaged in a campaign of violence,” said Richard Whittam, prosecuting. “Their actions have minimal support but cause death and destruction, fear and division and are in contradistinction to the will of the people of Northern Ireland.”

Mr Whittam said: “Whilst attacks are mainly directed at members of the police, military and prison service, the nature of the attacks leaves members of the public at risk.

“All of the groups remain persistent in their intention to kill and seriously injure.”

Maxwell was linked to a man in Larne who claimed to be a member of the Continuity IRA, the court heard.

Maxwell, identified as the bombmaker through his DNA, was kept under surveillance for days before he was arrested last August.

The Marine was stunned when police seized him at Norton Manor Camp near Taunton, Somerset home of 40 Commando.

He later cooperated with detectives and pointed out several of the hides.

Maxwell, of Exminster, Devon, has admitted preparing an act of terrorism.

The sentencing hearing, expected to last three days, continues. Royal Marine Ciaran Maxwell hoarded explosives as part of a plot to target Northern Ireland