Threat to blow up Prime Minister

Keith Mabey said he knew Prime Minister John Key dined and would

A man charged over threatening Prime Minister John Key's life allegedly planned to blow him up while he was having dinner.

Keith William Mabey, 21, unemployed, entered no plea to a charge of threatening to kill when he appeared in Palmerston North District Court yesterday, The Manawatu Standard reported.

Court documents revealed Mabey allegedly told a Corrections Department psychiatrist on April 18 he knew where Mr Key dined on Thursday nights and would "blow him up".

He said he had explosives and had been experimenting with remote detonators.

However, he later turned himself in to police and said he had been joking.

Mabey was remanded on bail until May 25.

Last week, Police Minister Judith Collins revealed serious threats had been made against Mr Key.

She was defending a budget blow out of $800,000 by the Diplomatic Protection Squad (DPS), responsible for Mr Key's security.

- NZPA