Suspected ricin found at property

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Ricin found at County Durham home

Traces of what is thought to be the nerve poison ricin have been found by police at the County Durham home of a suspected white supremacist.

Anti-terrorism officers have been searching the home of Ian Davidson, 41, since his arrest on Tuesday under the Terrorism Act 2000.

Police said the suspected ricin was found in a jam jar at the property in Myrtle Grove, Burnopfield.

Durham Police said there was no threat to the public.

Mr Davidson is being questioned by Durham officers and the North East Counter Terrorism Unit at a police station in West Yorkshire.

The substance was examined in tests by scientists in Scotland and is to be sent under escort to the Ministry of Defence's chemical biological warfare facility at Porton Down for further examination.

'Sealed jam jar'

Mr Davidson's son Nicky, 18, was arrested at Grampian Court, Annfield Plain, on suspicion of inciting racial hatred.

He was later re-arrested and is now also detained under the Terrorism Act in West Yorkshire.

Assistant Chief Constable Michael Barton, of Durham Police, said: "Specialist police officers have been carrying out a meticulous search of the property which is a 'two-up two-down' terraced house.

"They have uncovered a substance, which we believe has traces of ricin.

"It was in a sealed jam jar that has been kept in a kitchen cupboard - apparently for up to two years."

The arrests followed a long-running intelligence-led operation.