A teenager stands accused with making explosives in a sleepy Northumberland village.
The idyllic rural village of Glanton, about 7 miles to the west of Alnwick, was cordoned off late last Tuesday (5th March 2019) when the fire brigade found suspicious materials as they responded to a small fire in the boy's home.
The police were called, who in turn called for an Army bomb disposal unit to attend the incident.
Explosive materials and precursors were found at the boy's home and he was duly arrested by the police. At least one media outlet has described the explosive substance found as "rocket candy", which is a mixture containing sugar and other chemicals.
The primary legislation used in such cases is the Explosive Substances Act 1883.
It is an offence under section 2 of the Act to use an explosive substance to create an explosion of a nature likely to endanger life or cause serious damage to property. Section 3 of the Act makes it an offence to attempt to create harmful explosions, make or possess explosive substances with the intent of endangering life or causing serious damage to property.
The maximum penalty for these indictable offences is life imprisonment.
On Friday the 17 year-old boy, who cannot now be named for legal reasons, was formally charged with arson recklessly endangering life, an offence under section 1 of the Criminal Damage Act 1971, and making or possessing explosive substances, an offence under section 3 of the 1883 Act.
The youth, who is described as "exceptionally intelligent", appeared before South East Northumberland Youth Court, sitting at the Combined Court Centre in Newcastle, on Saturday morning.
He was remanded in youth detention until his next appearance at North Tyneside Youth Court on Wednesday, 13th March 2019.
A Glanton resident told the Newcastle Chronicle: "This sort of thing just doesn't happen round here.
"The last time we saw any police round here was when Raoul Moat was found in Rothbury.
"Nothing goes on here - there's not even bother in the pub."
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