Wolverhampton teen attempted to import car bomb that had potential to 'kill many people'

Gurtej Randhawa of Grove Lane, Wightwick, faces jail after being found guilty of maliciously possessing an explosive substance with intent to endanger life or cause serious injury, after having already pleaded guilty to attempting to import explosives.

Experts said the explosives he attempted to buy off the dark web 'had the potential to cause serious damage and kill many people' if he had been successful in using them.

Randhawa was arrested in May 2017 after he took delivery of a package he thought was a remote-detonated explosive device.

Intelligence indicated he had attempted to purchase a Vehicle Borne Improvised Explosive Device (VBIED) from the dark web. National Crime Agency (NCA) officers replaced the package with an inert dummy device, before allowing it to be delivered to the address provided by Randhawa.

Officers observed Randhawa testing the device and arrested him on suspicion of attempting to possess an explosive substance with intent to cause an explosion likely to endanger life.

Two women – aged 45 and 18 – were arrested at the same time but have since been released with no further action.

After being found guilty at Birmingham Crown Court yesterday, Randhawa has been remanded in custody and will be sentenced in the new year.

Tim Gregory, from the NCA’s Armed Operations Unit, said: “The explosive device Randhawa sought to purchase online had the potential to cause serious damage and kill many people if he had been successful in using it.

“He was not involved in an organised crime group or linked to terrorism, but is clearly an individual who poses a significant risk to the community.

“Identifying people like Randhawa – who seek to access illegal firearms and weapons – is a priority for the NCA and we will not stop in our efforts to make sure they are arrested and held accountable for their actions”.