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Explosives accused to have psychiatric assessment

Pacemaker Two white police vans parked in a narrow street. There is a bomb disposal robot presentPacemaker
Police and Army Technical Officers at the scene of a security alert on Empire Street, south Belfast

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

Radoslaw Hubert Kuc appeared before Belfast Magistrates' Court on Friday after police discovered an improvised grenade during a security alert at a house on Empire Street on Wednesday.

Other residents in the street were evacuated from their homes during the search operation at his property.

The 50-year-old is 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.

Mr Kuc shouted incoherently after he entered the dock.

At one stage he said: "I need a doctor."

His lawyer 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," he added.

Mr Kuc was remanded into custody until 28 February.