Muslim convert, 19, held under Terror Act as police explode 'bomb factory'

The scene: Residents spoke of their shock after being woken by a huge explosion at around 3am. One said the Muslim man living at the house targeted was 'lovely'

File this under home-grown-enemy-within. Another case of a convert to Islam turning on his native society. Home grown terrorism is the wild card in the insane world of global Jihad. While Hezbollah, al Qaeda, Hamas, Syria and Iran are major players and unpredictable, countless self appointed "martyrs" are living among Western society waiting to commit their own act of Jihad.

FROM THE DAILYMAIL.CO.UK:

Muslim convert, 19, held under Terror Act as police explode 'bomb factory'
Last updated at 13:57pm on 18th April 2008
A British teenager was being questioned today over a suspected terrorist bomb plot.
The 19-year-old — believed to be a Muslim convert — was being quizzed about a “significant” amount of alleged bombmaking materials found in his home.
Early this morning bomb squad officers used a robot to carry out a controlled explosion at the property in a quiet cul-de-sac in a Bristol suburb.

The scene: Residents spoke of their shock after being woken by a huge explosion at around 3am. One said the Muslim man living at the house targeted was 'lovely'
More than 30 people were evacuated before the blast this morning. Neighbours said the explosion sounded like a plane crash and “lit up the night sky”.
They described police in body armour swarming the streets. The teenager, thought to be a student, was arrested in Bristol city centre yesterday and was being questioned at a police station near Bristol under the Terrorism Act 2000.

Evacuated: Around 30 people were asked to leave their homes in Westbury-on-Trym, Bristol
Counter terrorism officers from Scotland Yard travelled to assist local officers. Police said the arrest took place after a “covert” intelligence-led operation.
The suspect is believed to share the red-brick terrace house in Comb Paddock, Westbury-on-Trym, with his mother.

A quantity of material was removed from the building at about 2am, before the controlled explosion.
The substances were sent for analysis. One security source said: “There is a degree of concern over what was found. It appears it could have caused a lot of harm.
“We are not talking about a school chemistry set here.” Margaret Ball, 66, who lives in the culde- sac, said: “I heard an awful bang. It was dreadful — as though an aeroplane had exploded in my back garden. It was all very scary.
The street was absolutely covered in police. “I always thought he was a normal student.” Locals said the suspect had moved into the house about two months ago.
Most described him as polite and one said he was often seen wearing traditional Muslim dress and carrying a satchel.

Rachel Clifford, 32, and Douglas Tierney, 36, who were evacuated during the operation, told how they had banged on walls and knocked on his door because of “loud Asian music” and “chanting”.

Explosion: Police revealed Scotland Yard's Counter Terrorism Command is also involved in the operation. They have refused to name the kind of materials blown up this morning
Mr Tierney said: “The music was getting so loud I just kept banging on the door. It was very frustrating because I was getting no response. There was also chanting and we were worried it was going to carry on all night. When we eventually went round there [was the sound of] about 12 bolts being undone.”
Jackie Roberts, Assistant Chief Constable of Avon and Somerset police, said: “We responded to intelligence given to us in the last 24 hours.
“This is likely to be a prolonged, complex and sensitive inquiry. It is unlikely those who have been evacuated will be able to return until much later today at the earliest.”
Farooq Siddique, of the Bristol Muslim Cultural Society, said: “We have a long history of very good community relations and people have worked hard to keep it that way. The Muslim community supports the work of the police.”