Northern Ireland

Man accused of having explosives in his south Belfast home must undergo a psychiatric assessment

Police discovered an improvised grenade during a security alert at Empire Street

Empire Street in south Belfast where a joint police and army security operation started at around 10.00am on Tuesday morning and continued right through to Thursday morning. Several families were evacuated from the vicinity as army bomb disposal officers dealt with a suspect devive at the property. After the army had cleared the building at around 9.00pm, a TSG unit moved in to remove electronic devices and paperwork before police forensics officers moved in to perform a detailed search of the house. One man has been arrested. Police released the following statement : " Police remain at a property in Empire Street, Belfast which was the focus of a security alert on Wednesday. The scene has been reduced and evacuated residents have returned home after a suspicious object, believed to be an improvised grenade, was made safe and removed by ATO. A man in his 50s who was arrested as part of the investigation remains in custody and police enquiries are continuing. Chief Inspector Mark Conway said: “Our investigation is at an early stage however we are aware of inaccurate online speculation regarding this alert and we advise the public not rely on such sources for their information. Once again we thank the community for their patience and co-operation while we carried out this public safety operation. A further update will be provided in due course.”
Alan Lewis - PhotopressBelfast.co.uk 30-1-2025 Police forensics officers at the bomb suspect's house at Empire Street in south Belfast where a joint police and army security operation started at around 10.00am on Tuesday morning and continued right through to Thursday morning. Several families were evacuated from the vicinity as army bomb disposal officers dealt with a suspect device at the property. After the army had cleared the building at around 9.00pm, a TSG unit moved in to remove electronic devices and paperwork before police forensics officers moved in to perform a detailed search of the house. One man has been arrested. Police released the following statement : " Police remain at a property in Empire Street, Belfast which was the focus of a security alert on Wednesday. The scene has been reduced and evacuated residents have returned home after a suspicious object, believed to be an improvised grenade, was made safe and removed by ATO. A man in his 50s who was arrested as part of the investigation remains in custody and police enquiries are continuing. Chief Inspector Mark Conway said: “Our investigation is at an early stage however we are aware of inaccurate online speculation regarding this alert and we advise the public not rely on such sources for their information. Once again we thank the community for their patience and co-operation while we carried out this public safety operation. A further update will be provided in due course.” (Alan Lewis - Photopress Belfast/Photopress Belfast)
By Alan Erwin

A man accused of having explosives in his south Belfast home must undergo a psychiatric assessment, a judge has ordered.

Radoslaw Hubert Kuc appeared before the city’s magistrates court after police discovered an improvised grenade during a security alert at the Empire Street property on Wednesday.

The 50-year-old was remanded into custody charged with possessing explosives in suspicious circumstances.

It is alleged that he had quantities of potassium permanganate, sulphur, black powder, 100 blank cartridges, ball bearings and other component parts of improvised explosive devices.

A PSNI officer said she could connect him to the charge but disclosed no further details about the circumstances.

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Handcuffed and dressed in a grey tracksuit, Kuc shouted incoherently after he entered the dock.

At one stage he stated: “I need a doctor.”

Defence barrister Michael Boyd told the court his client was not seeking bail at this stage because there is no suitable address.

“There is a psychiatric background that we are investigating,” Mr Boyd added.

District Judge Natasha Fitzsimons remanded Kuc in custody until February 28.

Adjourning the case, she said: “Given his presentation today I have concerns. I’m going to direct (a psychiatric assessment).”

Other residents in the Empire Street area had to be evacuated from their homes for a period during the search operation at Kuc’s property.

Police later confirmed that an improvised grenade was removed and made safe.