Man accused of having bomb-making materials in his possession

Banff: Homes were evacuated in May.© SWNS Group

A man accused of causing a major bomb scare and being in possession of bomb-making materials has appeared in court .

Connor Ward, 20, was arrested followed an incident in Banff, Aberdeenshire, in May when streets were cordoned off and residents had to leave their homes.

Ward is accused of claiming he had a bomb when he was at Royal Cornhill Hospital in Aberdeen and at an address in Banff.

It is also alleged that he searched out manuals and books detailing how to make explosive devices and searched for and obtained materials such as firework tubes, chemicals and ball bearings.

The charge claims that between December 2010 and May 18 this year he made plastic explosives, flash powder, gun powder and fuses with intent to cause an explosion which would endanger life or cause serious injury to property.

Other alleged breaches of the explosive substances act claim that Ward had bomb making materials in his possession "unlawfully and maliciously" and that he investigated how to build various types of bomb.

Another charge alleges that Ward possessed indecent pictures of children between May last year and May 2012 at the Royal Cornhill Hospital.

At a brief hearing at the High Court in Edinburgh on Friday his lawyers asked judge Lord Turnbull for more time to examine reports on Ward's mental health.

He is due back in court next month.

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