Belfast doomsday 'prepper' charged over explosives stash

Ralph Caldwell was arrested on Tuesday with his wife Maria after a police search of his home

A self-confessed "prepper" and his wife have both been remanded in custody after an alleged explosives stash was found in their home.

Ralph and Maria Caldwell, both 40, of Jersusalem Street in Belfast, were arrested on Tuesday.

It came after after police intelligence led to a search of their house.

Officers found suspected firearms, including three shotguns and some handguns, ammunition and suspected potassium nitrate and corn syrup.

Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) officers testified these substances can be used in explosives.

Combat knifes, machetes, crossbows, handcuffs, a bullet press, piping, 3D printed items and 25 mobile phones were also recovered.

The court was also told by Mr Caldwell's solicitor that the bath in the home was "filled to the brim with cans of fish, which Mr Caldwell was in the process of preserving".

Defendant 'prepping for a cataclysmic event'

Both have been charged with possession of firearms and ammunition as well as attempting to make explosives under suspicious circumstances.

While Mr Caldwell did not seek bail, Mrs Caldwell's application for bail was denied.

Belfast Magistrates Court heard on Thursday that Mr Caldwell accepts he is a "prepper, prepping for a cataclysmic event" and that items "in terms of food and minerals and preservatives are for that".

Mr Caldwell's defence lawyer Ciaran Steele also said his client is "an artist", so many of the materials are used as props as he previously had a YouTube channel.

The couple told police they were on their way to Nando's when they were arrested and Mr Steele said they were "living a normal life".

Mrs Caldwell has no criminal record and told the PSNI that she had not seen the items before and had not touched them.

It was put to her on Thursday morning that the house was messy.

Police believe more items are hidden

Describing her own home, Mrs Caldwell said the house has "lots of bags, boxes on top of boxes" and "you can't walk anywhere, there's stuff in the bath".

She claimed that, due to this, she had no knowledge of the items seized.

Mrs Caldwell is originally from the Philippines and came to Northern Ireland a number of years ago, qualifying as a nurse.

She stopped work in 2020 after becoming ill but hopes to return to work after being treated for anxiety and depression.

The police objected to her bail as they believe multiple items are still outstanding and they have not been able to locate them. They believe these items are at a second address or hide.

Mr Steele said both defendants were interviewed extensively about other addresses and both denied they have access to any other property.

Mr Caldwell is currently facing separate charges in other courts of possession of parts of firearms and possession of explosive substances without a license.

In the police interview, he said the seized items were part of his defence in both the separate Crown and Magistrate court cases.

Of the various items that were found, some were in plastic bags. In a number of those bags, Mr Caldwell had written: "Exhibit ABCD" on them.

Both defendants will return to court on 13 June.