A 36-year-old man has been sentenced to two years' imprisonment, having previously plead guilty to a number of charges, including: possession of articles for use in terrorism, possession of ammunition in suspicious circumstances, possession of a prohibited weapon, attempting to convert an imitation firearm and importing a prohibited weapon

Robert Templeton will also be subject to a violent offender's prevention order for five years and also subject to terrorist notification requirements under the Terrorism Act.

Welcoming the sentencing, Detective Chief Inspector Barry Hamilton said: "Police, along with Army bomb experts, carried out a search of a property in the Ballymena area on 5 July 2019.

"The search, carried out under a Terrorism Act warrant, revealed a hoard of potentially lethal devices. The items seized included bladed weapons – namely swords and knives, instruction manuals on making improvised guns, shotgun cartridges and suspected pipe bomb components, along with various chemicals.

"Robert Templeton was subsequently arrested, under the Terrorism Act, on Saturday 6 July.”

Detective Chief Inspector Hamilton continued: "The manufacture and storage of this abundance of explosives and weapons indiscriminately puts everyone at risk.

"I hope that the seizure of this cache, along with the investigation and today's outcome, offers assurance of our ongoing commitment to keeping people safe.

"I would also appeal to anyone with any information about those involved in criminality to provide that information to police by calling 101, or alternatively, information can be provided anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111."