28/06/2013

Man Questioned Over Mosque Explosion

A man is being questioned by West Midlands Police this morning following the discovery of a home-made explosive near a Walsall mosque.

Detectives from West Midlands Counter Terrorism Unit are questioning the man, aged 75, following his arrest at his home in Walsall yesterday at 16:30.

He was detained on suspicion of causing an explosion likely to endanger life or damage property.

He was taken to a police station in the West Midlands while his home address is being searched as part of the investigation.

The arrest is part of an investigation by specialist detectives and experts from the West Midlands Counter Terrorism Unit.

It began on Saturday 22 June when police were called to reports of a suspicious item at the Aisha mosque in Rutter Street, Walsall.

Witnesses say the device exploded outside the building on Friday night, but didn't report the matter to the police until a member of the public recovered the debris and brought it inside the mosque the following day.

A significant investigation was immediately launched.

(IT/CD)

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