It was in December last year that police were alerted by residents who heard a window smashed and saw two men behaving strangely. A number of loosely hanging cables connected to a battery were found in the stairwell. The 21-year-old was arrested outside the gate, while his partner managed to escape.
The bomb squad stated that it was a working charge of seven hectares of dynamite. The assessment was that it could have posed a significant risk to people’s lives and health and caused extensive destruction of property.
But the battery to which the charge was connected was discharged, which meant that it never detonated.
The man is now convicted, against his denial, of attempted general destruction and gross violation of the law on flammable and explosive goods.