A man who stockpiled chemicals and bomb-making instructions before calling police and telling them he was going to blow up two companies’ staff is behind bars.
Patrick McCabe sparked a mass evacuation and forced the bomb squad to carry out a series of controlled explosions at his flat in Dundee following the incident on December 5 last year.
McCabe phoned up Dundee’s police control centre around 11pm and told a call handler he was ex-SAS and had “purchased electrical components, a digital soldering iron and a book on improvised explosives, ammunition and guns”.
He said he was in a dispute with a bank and a telecommunications company and that police had not taken his complaints about them seriously.
As a result he planned to find out where staff at the two institutions parked their cars before planting bombs underneath their vehicles.
Fiscal depute Eilidh Robertson told Dundee Sheriff Court that police attended his flat in Fairbairn Street, near Dundee United’s Tannadice Park, and found chemicals stashed in his freezer.
Scientists who later analysed the find said they could have been used to create a bomb if further chemicals had been added to them.
Miss Robertson said: “The accused stated on the phone that he had started making bombs and was ‘going to shoot some b******s’. He claimed he was ex 22nd Special Air Service.
“When police attended he stated he had purchased a book on how to make bombs and bought equipment to make explosives.
“He was detained and taken to police HQ. A search warrant was granted and police were assisted by members of the army bomb disposal squad.
“Residents in the block were evacuated and a cordon put in place. A number of chemical mixtures were found in his freezer and gave cause for concern as they were thought to be precursor elements for an explosive mixture.
“A number of controlled explosions took place. The chemicals were later examined by a specialist lab.
“Although a number of chemicals could have been used to make explosives further chemicals would have been required.”
McCabe, 65, a prisoner at HMP Perth, pleaded guilty on indictment to a change of threatening and abusive behaviour at a flat in Fairbairn Street on December 5 last year.
Defence solicitor John Boyle said: “He accepts that the period in custody – though not of his choosing – has been of some assistance for him.
“He is receiving help and medication while in there.”
Sheriff Alastair Brown deferred sentence until April 10 for social work background reports and remanded McCabe in custody meantime.
He said: “From his point of view I’m not sure custody is the right place for him.
“From the public’s point of view, I can’t think of anywhere else.”
Street was put on lockdown
The Courier reported how Fairbairn Street was put on lockdown amid the bomb threat.
Residents were evacuated and police roadblocks were set up at all access points around the closure zone as a series of loud bangs added to locals’ concerns.
Residents complained of a lack of information, with one telling The Courier: “We’ve been asking and asking, but the police won’t tell us a thing.
“Seeing the bomb squad parked at the end of your street is just terrifying. I would sleep easier if I knew what was going on.”
