BRITISH anti terrorism officers discovered a "substantial"amount of bomb making equipment yesterday buried in the garden of the IRA man who was killed when his bomb exploded on a London bus.
A Scotland Yard spokesman refused to disclose the quantity and the nature of the materials discovered but said the area around Edward O'Brien's house in Lewisham, south London, had been evacuated as a precautionary measure while anti terrorism officers continuing searching his garden.
"A substantial quantity of bomb making equipment has been discovered in the garden of 117 George Lane, Lewisham, during the ongoing meticulous search of the address. The premises and grounds have been subjected to a painstaking fingertip search which has resulted in this find," he said.
O'Brien (21), from Gorey, Co Wexford, was killed when a bomb he was carrying accidentally exploded on a double decker bus on Sunday night in Aldwych, central London. Eight people were injured, four seriously.
Police believe O'Brien's intended target was the Royal Courts of Justice in the Strand, which are just a few hundred yards from the scene of the blast.
On Tuesday anti terrorist officers discovered 40lb of Semtex, timers and wires in O'Brien's flat.