Two Brit doomsday preppers ‘planned to build nuclear dirty bomb’: Austrian police arrest pair and third accomplice after finding massive weapons arsenal
Two Brit doomsday preppers ‘planned to build nuclear dirty bomb’: Austrian police arrest couple and third accomplice after finding massive arsenal of weapons
- Police say they found bomb-making equipment at their home, including TNT
A pair of British doomsday preppers who, according to Austrian police, were “intending to build a nuclear dirty bomb” were found with a huge arsenal of weapons in their home.
The pair, whose names have not been mentioned in local media, face up to five years in prison after being charged with nuclear crimes earlier this year in Ruden, Austria’s Carinthia state.
Detectives say they found bomb-making materials, including the explosive TNT, black powder and ball bearings, as well as detonators, on the property occupied by the men.
In addition, authorities say they found a plethora of weapons, including military assault rifles, in the home inhabited by what are believed to be a cult of people preparing for the end of the world.
The 67-year-old Britons go along with a 29-year-old Austrian co-conspirator, have been charged with conspiracy to use “a nuclear fuel, a radioactive substance, an explosive device” to make bombs, local media reported.
Police found a plethora of firearms, including military assault rifles and shotguns when they entered the two men’s premises
Austrian police were called to the premises after paramedics responding to an emergency noticed the armory
Police are reportedly looking for a fourth accomplice, reportedly a 68-year-old Austrian, who remains at large.
Police discovered components of male lethal pipe bombs, including 1.5 kilograms (3.3 lbs) of TNT, 8.5 kilograms (18.7 lbs) of black powder, ball bearings and steel tubing in the home.
It is clear that the deadly concoction, which contained sulfuric acid, was enough to make nine powerful DIY bombs.
Investigators also found 20 detonators and a cell phone that prosecutors said must have been used as a trigger.
In addition, police found high-powered shotguns, military assault rifles, shotguns, handguns and boxes of ammunition at the property.
The three suspects will be on trial at the court of Klagenfurt from Tuesday, August 22.
Public Prosecutor spokesperson Tina Frimmel-Hesse said: “Such cases are very rare. The amount was enough to produce eight pipe bombs with devastating effect.’
Frimmel-Hesse added that when questioned, the perpetrators refused to reveal what they intended to do with the explosives.
The men are said to be members of a cult preparing for the end of the world and live in the rural area of Ruden in southern Austria.
According to local media, the three suspects were arrested after one of them called an ambulance during a medical emergency.
Emergency responders who responded immediately called police after seeing the armory near the property. Agents then arrested the three residents and sealed the estate.
A spokesman for Klagenfurt’s public prosecutor told Newsflash: “The men will appear in court for illegal possession of weapons and explosives.”
The three men reportedly lived very secluded lives and had no interest in talking to their neighbours.
However, a resident told the news outlet, “The house they bought a few years ago is extremely run-down. The region is very quiet and rural, not much happening.
“Their neighbors don’t know about the three men. It remains to be seen whether they were part of a conspiracy network or just weird hermits.’