Police found chemicals after murder attempt

Leeds Crown Court heard yesterday when the home of Marcin Kasprzak in Penistone Road, Huddersfield, was searched on May 30 last year after his girlfriend’s miraculous escape from her woodland grave, police found he had printed out a copy of the Anarchist’s Cookbook and recipes for viable explosives.

Jonathan Sharp, prosecuting, said chemicals found included 500 grammes of potassium permanganate and one litre of glycerol which combined could produce a reaction or a pressure burst explosion if confined.

Police also discovered 1.5 kilogrammes of aluminium powder and four kilogrammes of iron oxide which combined could produce thermite, an incendiary mixture that burns vigorously at high temperature and if misused could cause injury and damage to property.

In addition, he had 189g of ammonium nitrate which combined with fuel oil produces another explosive material and to have 370g of carbon, 476g of sulphur and 1.212kg of potassium nitrate, which are the constituent parts of gunpowder.

Research material found by police indicated “an intense interest in the history and science of explosives”.

His girlfriend Michelina Lewandowska said Kasprzak admitted once making a firework in the house but Mr Sharp said there was no evidence he had progressed beyond early experimentation and it was accepted he had no links with terrorism.

Kasprzak, 27, admitted eight charges of possessing explosive substances and was given four years concurrent with the 20-year jail term imposed earlier this year for the attempted murder and kidnap of Miss Lewandowska.

Judge Tom Bayliss QC said his motive for having the chemicals was obscure.