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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2014/nov/06/newcastle-man-court-charged-planning-attack-college
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| Newcastle teenager appears in court charged with planning attack on college | Newcastle teenager appears in court charged with planning attack on college |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A teenager has appeared in court after allegedly planning an attack on a city college. | |
| Liam Lyburd, 18, appeared before North Tyneside magistrates court charged with possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life, possessing ammunition with intent to endanger life, and five counts of possessing an explosive substance, namely a pipe bomb, with intent to endanger life. | Liam Lyburd, 18, appeared before North Tyneside magistrates court charged with possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life, possessing ammunition with intent to endanger life, and five counts of possessing an explosive substance, namely a pipe bomb, with intent to endanger life. |
| Lyburd, of Hamilton Place, Newcastle, spoke only to confirm his address and date of birth. No pleas were entered and he was remanded in custody to appear before Newcastle crown court on 20 November. | Lyburd, of Hamilton Place, Newcastle, spoke only to confirm his address and date of birth. No pleas were entered and he was remanded in custody to appear before Newcastle crown court on 20 November. |
| The estate where he lives, near the St James’s Park football stadium, was cordoned off on Monday while searches were carried out. | The estate where he lives, near the St James’s Park football stadium, was cordoned off on Monday while searches were carried out. |
| Police said later that serious harm was intended to be caused at Newcastle college. | Police said later that serious harm was intended to be caused at Newcastle college. |
| Northumbria police said on Wednesday: “The investigation to date has revealed that there was intent to cause serious harm at Newcastle college. We are confident that we have prevented the incident from taking place.” | Northumbria police said on Wednesday: “The investigation to date has revealed that there was intent to cause serious harm at Newcastle college. We are confident that we have prevented the incident from taking place.” |
| The Newcastle Chronicle reported that the police investigation had started after posts on a social media site. | The Newcastle Chronicle reported that the police investigation had started after posts on a social media site. |
| The Newcastle college principal, Carole Kitching, said students should attend the college as usual and that officers would be patrolling the campus. | The Newcastle college principal, Carole Kitching, said students should attend the college as usual and that officers would be patrolling the campus. |
| Kitching said: “I would like to reassure staff, students and their families that their safety has been paramount to us and the college remains a safe place to study. | Kitching said: “I would like to reassure staff, students and their families that their safety has been paramount to us and the college remains a safe place to study. |
| “Officers will be on patrol around the campus to offer reassurance and anyone who is concerned can speak to an officer or contact the college’s welfare team. | “Officers will be on patrol around the campus to offer reassurance and anyone who is concerned can speak to an officer or contact the college’s welfare team. |
| “People should attend the college as usual. We have an extensive network of CCTV cameras monitoring key areas inside buildings and across the campus and our security staff are on duty 24 hours a day.” | “People should attend the college as usual. We have an extensive network of CCTV cameras monitoring key areas inside buildings and across the campus and our security staff are on duty 24 hours a day.” |
| Notable former pupils of the college include Ant and Dec, the comedian Ross Noble, X Factor winner Joe McElderry and Perrie Edwards from Little Mix. | Notable former pupils of the college include Ant and Dec, the comedian Ross Noble, X Factor winner Joe McElderry and Perrie Edwards from Little Mix. |
| Lyburd’s arrest came after officers and a bomb disposal squad cordoned off Hamilton Place and evacuated around 50 homes in the Arthur’s Hill area of the city on Monday. | Lyburd’s arrest came after officers and a bomb disposal squad cordoned off Hamilton Place and evacuated around 50 homes in the Arthur’s Hill area of the city on Monday. |
| Police had received a report of concern for a person from neighbours at around 11.30am. Officers searched a property before evacuating the area. | Police had received a report of concern for a person from neighbours at around 11.30am. Officers searched a property before evacuating the area. |
| Further searches were carried out at the premises overnight and officers found suspected explosive devices, a firearm and a quantity of ammunition. The items are now undergoing a full forensic examination. | Further searches were carried out at the premises overnight and officers found suspected explosive devices, a firearm and a quantity of ammunition. The items are now undergoing a full forensic examination. |
| Officers worked with other emergency services at the scene and the people evacuated from their homes were housed in Westgate Community college overnight. Following completion of the searches, residents returned home on Tuesday morning. Lyburd was charged on Wednesday. | Officers worked with other emergency services at the scene and the people evacuated from their homes were housed in Westgate Community college overnight. Following completion of the searches, residents returned home on Tuesday morning. Lyburd was charged on Wednesday. |
| Newcastle college worked closely with police throughout their investigation. | Newcastle college worked closely with police throughout their investigation. |