Man in court over police station bomb bid

A man has appeared in court after a bomb, which failed to explode, was left outside Lurgan Police Station in County Armagh.

Brian Anthony Toman, of Drumnamoe Avenue in Lurgan, was charged with attempted murder over the attack at the end of March.

The 48-year-old has also been charged with possession of explosives with intent to endanger life or damage property, attempting to cause an explosion likely to endanger life and hijacking.

His defence lawyer said the case relied solely on DNA claims and argued it was "very dangerous to connect his client at this stage".

The accused appeared from Musgrave Police Station by video link and replied "yes" when asked if he understood the charges against him.

A senior Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) officer told Craigavon Magistrates' Court he could connect Toman to the charges.

The detective chief inspector said the bomb which was left at the police station "failed to detonate".

The officer added it was "noted to be a viable timer-powered device with low explosive within a pipe-shaped object and shrapnel contained within".

The court heard the device also contained a number of jars of flammable liquid which was designed to create maximum fire damage.

The detective chief inspector said DNA testing had identified the accused's DNA on five components of the bomb, including an AA battery.

He added that cell site analysis - the examination of mobile phone location records - showed Toman's phone "covering the cell where the attack happened".

The senior officer said Toman made no comment over the course of nine interviews spanning five hours and 17 minutes.

He said following the interview process, and having been informed of the areas containing his DNA, Toman "presented a prepared statement" which stated that he regularly works on different construction sites and is in constant contact with screws and other tools.

The officer said in his statement Toman also said he would regularly "come into contact with batteries, especially AA batteries".

The court also heard the accused lives close to an alleyway where the hijacking of the delivery driver occurred.

Toman's defence lawyer said his client had given a legitimate account as to how he may have come into contact with "these everyday items".

The judge said the DNA evidence wasn't the "only strand" being relied on by police and said the DNA evidence alone was enough to establish a connection.

The defence lawyer said he would not make a bail application on Friday and Toman was remanded into custody until 5 June.