Police find explosives after blast kills man

Police raided a house in Brecon yesterday afternoon after one man was killed and another seriously injured in an explosion in a nearby house on Monday night. Detectives discovered a number of sticks of British made PE4 military plastic explosives.

The blast occurred shortly before 10pm on Monday night prompting a massive police operation which continued throughout yesterday.

The area remained cordoned off with scores of police officers, fire brigade and ambulance personnel and army bomb disposal experts on stand-by.

Detective Chief Superintendent Jeff Thomas, head of Dyfed Powys CID said yesterday evening: "The explosives were unlawfully obtained. We have no knowledge of them being distributed.

"The two men are known to the police but had no reason to be handling explosives. At this stage there is no indication of any terrorist link whatsoever.

"We urgently require information regarding these materials and appeal to anyone with information to contact us."

Police are liaising with the military in an investigation which is expected to last a considerable time.

The explosives, in eight inch long and one inch wide sticks, were wrapped in white grease-proof paper.

Mr Thomas displayed one stick at a news conference in Brecon Police Station and remarked: "Just two of these caused the explosion which virtually demolished number 8, Dorglas on Monday night."

Several houses on the Bron y Crug estate, where the explosives were found, were evacuated after the blast. The house itself is about 400 yards from Brecon Barracks the headquarters of the army in Wales.

Police identified the man who died on Monday night as 30-year-old Andrew Cridland.

The wrecked house was being demolished yesterday evening after Mr Cridland's body had been recovered from the ruins.