Commander Dominic Murphy : “Radiological Material Traces Found in Bedfordshire Arrest”

On Tuesday, a 31-year-old man from Bedfordshire was arrested on suspicion of a terrorism offence and is currently in police custody. Despite the arrest, officers believe there is no risk to the public.

Commander Dominic Murphy, head of the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command, addressed the media reports and speculation surrounding the arrest. He clarified that there is no evidence of a ‘dirty bomb’ being constructed or planned at the address in Caddington where the man was arrested.

Specialist officers have been working diligently to identify and recover any suspicious substances found at the property in the safest possible manner. During the searches, small traces of radiological material were detected, but it was confirmed that these substances are commonly found in everyday items such as smoke alarms and luminescent watch dials.

Bedfordshire Police initiated the investigation on May 6 after finding suspicious substances at the residential address in Caddington. The man was initially arrested on suspicion of causing explosions likely to endanger life and possession of class A drugs. Subsequently, the investigation was transferred to the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command on May 13.

The man was then re-arrested on suspicion of possession of articles for terrorist purposes and remains in custody. Specialist officers are continuing to safely identify and remove any items discovered at the property.

Prior to the arrest, an ordnance disposal team conducted a controlled explosion at the site. The Met is closely monitoring the situation to ensure the safety of the public and appreciates the support and understanding from the local community during this ongoing investigation.