Royal Marine commando Ciaran Maxwell held in dissident republican terror probe

DETECTIVES have been granted further time to question NI-born Royal Marine Ciaran Maxwell over dissident republican guns and explosives haul.

The 30-year-old can now be held for a further five days.

Maxwell, from Old Glenarm Road in Larne, was arrested in Somerset on Wednesday by the Metropolitan Police Service’s Counter Terrorism Command.

The Royal Marine commando is suspected of preparing for acts of terrorism.

A warrant for further detention was granted to the Met by Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Friday.

It means that he can now be held in custody until 12.20 pm next Wednesday, August 31.

Maxwell was taken to a West Country police station immediately after his arrest.

But a Met spokesman said the royal marine was transferred to a London police station on Thursday.

His arrest is understood to be connected to the discovery of two arms dumps near Larne earlier this year.

The weapons discovered are thought to be linked to dissident republican paramilitaries.

Searches in Devon connected to the arrest are still ongoing.