A 45-YEAR-OLD has been arrested in Sunderland in connection with offences under the Terrorism Act.

Officers from the North East Counter Terrorism Unit, acting together with officers from Northumbria Police and PSNI, detained the man following an investigation into an explosives find in West Belfast in Northern Ireland.

Northumbria Police Chief Superintendent Andy McDyer said: "We would like to reassure the local community that there is nothing to suggest that there was, or is, any risk to people in the area.

"We have extra officers in the area to reassure people and anyone with any concerns can speak to us by ringing 101."

Detective Inspector Adrian Brown said: “Officers from PSNI Serious Crime Branch, investigating an arms and explosives find in West Belfast on 18 September, assisted by Officers from North East Counter Terrorism Unit and Northumbria Police have arrested a 45-year-old man, this morning, Sunday, September 20, in Sunderland.

“There are no further details at this stage."

Northern Ireland media are reporting that explosives, handguns, rounds of ammunition and detonators were recovered by police during a security alert on the Ballymurphy Road, which began late on Thursday night and continued into the early hours of Friday morning.

The items, which included more than half a kilo of the deadly plastic explosive Semtex, were seized by police investigating violent dissident terrorist activity.

A man, aged 67, and a 38-year-old woman detained in Belfast following the security operation have been released pending a report to the Public Prosecution Service.

Unionist politicians have described the discovery of Semtex, a plastic explosive used by the Provisional IRA during the 1980s and 1990s, as deeply concerning.

Former Libyan dictator Colonel Gaddafi sent three shipments of Semtex to the PIRA and victims have long been campaigning for compensation from any new Libyan Government.

The Northern Ireland Select Committee at Westminster is also conducting an inquiry into the role of the UK Government in seeking financial redress for those affected by explosives supplied by the Gaddafi regime.

It is believed the quantity of Semtex found in West Belfast would have been sufficient to make three under-car booby trap bombs.