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World

Cyprus justice minister says home of large ammonium nitrate cache was under surveillance

Associated Press
Published | Updated
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    A riot police officer stands guard outside of the house, left, which was discovered to contain two tons of a chemical compound in southern costal city of Larnaca, Cyprus, on Saturday, May 30, 2015. A Cyprus court has ordered a 26-year-old Lebanese-Canadian man to remain in police custody for eight days after two tons of a chemical compound that can be turned into an explosive was discovered at his home. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias) (The Associated Press)

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    Riot police stand guard outside of the house, left behind tree, which was discovered to contain some two tons of a chemical compound in southern costal city of Larnaca, Cyprus, on Saturday, May 30, 2015. A Cyprus court has ordered a 26-year-old Lebanese-Canadian man to remain in police custody for eight days after two tons of a chemical compound that can be turned into an explosive was discovered at his home. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias) (The Associated Press)

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    Riots police stand guard outside of the house, at left and behind tree, which was discovered to contain two tons of a chemical compound in southern costal city of Larnaca, Cyprus, on Saturday, May 30, 2015. A Cyprus court has ordered a 26-year-old Lebanese-Canadian man to remain in police custody for eight days after two tons of a chemical compound that can be turned into an explosive was discovered at his home. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias) (The Associated Press)

NICOSIA, Cyprus – Cyprus' justice minister says a home where police seized five tons of a chemical compound that can be turned into an explosive had been kept under surveillance for some time before officers moved in.

Ionas Nicolaou told The Associated Press Wednesday that authorities put the Larnaca home in their sights after being tipped off, but did not reveal the source.

Police are holding a 26-year-old Lebanese-Canadian man in connection with the seizure. He faces charges of conspiracy to commit a criminal offense and possession and transportation of explosives.

A security source told the AP that the owner of the home, a man of Arabic origin, is being sought in connection with the case. It's unclear what use was intended for the cache of ammonium nitrate.