A 62-year-old man is appearing before magistrates in Guarda today after police apprehended a cache of weapons and explosives from his home in Trancoso.
With the world on heightened alert over the possibility of ‘embedded jihadi fighters’, the discovery was made by the GNR’s criminal investigation nucleus.
The man, whose identity has not been specified, was found to be in the possession of 52 sticks of “gelamonite” explosives (a total of 7 kilos), 127 detonators plus six electric detonators, two rockets, 110 metres of detonation cord, 65 metres of ‘slow’ detonation cord, a shotgun, a 6.35 mm pistol, mace spray, multiple cartridges and bullets.
According to national tabloid Correio da Manhã, police are now investigating “the motives for possession of the explosive material, as well as the source”.
The man was due to appear before a court today (Friday) for his first judicial interrogation, and to set bail terms.
Coincidentally, a similar incident was reported earlier this year, in the same borough.
Then, another 62-year-old man was arrested in Santa Eufémia with a similar haul of explosives but no firearms.
At the time, a police source told Lusa that agents believed the explosives were used to “open up ditches”.
