British Police Arrest 8, Seize Bomb-Making Chemical in Suspected Terror Plot

Ammonium nitrate. Half a ton of it, which for those of you who know your chemistry, goes BOOM in a big way. . .

The chief anti-terrorism officer of the Metropolitan Police, Peter Clarke, said a raid in west London had found half a ton of ammonium nitrate, which can be made into a bomb. He said police have arrested eight men, all British citizens ranging in age from 17 to 32.

“Today’s operation, which involved some 700 officers in total, is part of continuing and extensive inquiries by police and the security service, into alleged international terrorist activity,” said the police official. “And I must stress that the threat from terrorism remains very real.”