Terrorists use children's toys to make bombs

Instructions on how to make bombs using parts from children's toys have been discovered by police during an anti-terrorist operation in the UK.

A suspected terror manual also details the production of poison dust clouds, counter-terrorist sources have disclosed.

The alarming discovery was made during a major operation yesterday by Greater Manchester Police aimed at suspected al Qaeda supporters. Eight houses were raided in Bolton, Greater Manchester.

Police are understood to have recovered computer files that contain details in Arabic that provide instructions on how to make terrorist devices.

These are understood to include using electronic parts from children's toys to make detonators. Other material details how to make a chemical bomb.

A source said: "We do not know at this stage what anyone was planning to do with this information."

Detectives are also believed to have found videos showing people in Iraq being beheaded and tortured.

These types of videos are often of hostages, or the Iraqi police and military, and are used by al Qaeda to radicalise and indoctrinate supporters. Police are also investigating a suspected money laundering and fraud scheme that involves tens of thousands of pounds from a foreign bank.

The findings follow a two month-long operation by Greater Manchester Police's anti terrorist unit and Special Branch, and stems from information obtained from the region as part an initiative called Operation Bracco.

The police force said it could not rule out more raids or making arrests at a later date.

The raids were carried out at around 7am local time (6pm NZT) by around 50 unarmed officers in the Tonge Moor, Halliwell and Great Lever areas of Bolton. A further 200 officers were working behind the scenes.

Greater Manchester Police said they had targeted "individuals suspected of possession of information that could be used for a terrorism purpose".

Assistant Chief Constable and head of crime Dave Jones said: "We believe that the action taken was absolutely necessary to minimise any risk to communities at home and abroad.

"We have been liasing with community representatives to ensure the operation has been carried out with the minimum impact on local people."

Residents in Lansdowne Close, where one of the raids took place, said the raid had been like a scene from a television programme. Later, the quiet cul-de-sac was cordoned off with police tape, while an officer stood guard outside and a forensic team searched the terrace house.

A black Citroen ZX car and two large suitcases were taken away for examination.

One woman, who did not wish to be named, said: "I thought I was dreaming this morning. I opened the blinds and thought 'What the hell's going on?' It was like a scene from CSI.

"The police were all surrounding the house and it was really frightening. This is a nice area, you don't expect to see something like that on your doorstep."

Police arrested two men under the Terrorism Act during the raids. The suspects can be held for up to 14 days.

- INDEPENDENT