Royal Marine commando Ciaran Maxwell remanded in custody at court in London

A Royal Marine from Northern Ireland has faced a court in London charged with terror-related offences including bomb-making and storing weapons linked to dissident republican terrorism.

Ciarán Maxwell, 30, has been charged with one offence of terrorism, one of fraud and one of possessing cannabis.

He was arrested in Somerset last week after searches in Larne and Devon.

Maxwell appeared at a three minute hearing at Westminster Magistrates’ Court and was remanded in custody until Monday, September 5.

The serving Marine’s arrest connected to the discovery of two arms dumps in County Antrim in March and May this year which believed belonged to dissident republican terrorists.

Maxwell is charged with manufacturing explosives, making devices and storing them in barrels in hides in England and Northern Ireland.

The charges include obtaining articles for use in terrorism – specifically chemicals and components to make bombs – and having an image of an adapted police pass card.

The charges come as part of long-running investigation involving the Security Service (MI5), the Police Service of Northern Ireland and the South West Counter-Terrorism Unit, as well as Scotland Yard’s Counter-Terrorism Unit.

The Larne commando is accused of carrying out research resulting in “the creation of a library of documents” likely to be of use to terrorists.

The offences are alleged to have taken place between 1 January 2011 and the day of his arrest in Somerset, 24 August 2016.

Bomb making material found in buried in barrels at Carnfunnock Country Park

CHARGES IN FULL AGAINST CIARAN MAXWELL

On 2 September 2016 Ciarán Maxwell was charged with the following offences:

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 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