Nails have been taped to aerosol cans and left in burning bins

A teenager has been arrested in connection with an incident involving a nail bomb explosion in a burning public rubbish bin.

The 14-year-old was arrested by North Wales Police after an incident in Llandudno on 26 October.

He has been released on police bail while police carry out further enquiries.

On Monday, a senior fire officer warned nail bombs which could potentially kill or maim are being made by school children.

Two home-made devices of aerosol cans wrapped with nails have been left in burning bins in the past two weeks in the Llandudno area.

Serious injury

North Wales Fire Service central divisional officer Neil Gallagher said he was "very concerned" about the "trend of nail bombs" after a third device was reported in the area several months ago.

When the cans explode in the heat the nails shoot out at high speed within a 10 metre radius, and are capable of causing serious injury.

Mr Gallagher warned the public not to approach burning bins but to contact the fire service immediately if they spot one.

I've been in the fire service for 24 years and this is the first time I've seen somebody targeting fires like this." Neil Gallagher

"These devices have been designed to hurt people and could be fatal," he said.

"They won't kill firefighters because of their protective clothing.

"But if you get a good Samaritan who tries to tackle a fire, they won't realise how much danger they are in."

"To explain the power of exploding aerosol cans, I've been to house fires where we've found them embedded in the ceiling."

Mr Gallagher said he believed school children were behind the recent attack.

"We are very concerned about this trend of nail bombs which is the third we've had in the Llandudno area in the past eight months.

"It is frightening really - I've been in the fire service for 24 years and this is the first time I've seen somebody targeting fires like this."