A 35-year-old man has appeared in court in Belfast after 17 improvised explosive devices were discovered during searches in the city. Wesley Thomas Fletcher, of Leopold Street in Belfast, appeared at Belfast Magistrates' Court on Monday 2 November for a brief hearing. Mr Fletcher was remanded in custody. No application for bail was made, with his defence lawyer telling the court there were no suitable addresses to offer that day. The case is next set to be mentioned on 30 November.

The charges

Three charges were put to the court: two counts of possessing explosives under suspicious circumstances, and one count of possessing a prohibited weapon, described as a Taser. The court heard that 17 improvised explosive devices and two detonators had been found.

Searches in north Belfast

Charges follow searches at properties in the Shankill Road and Edwina Street areas of north Belfast on Friday 30 and Saturday 31 October, which prompted a security operation. Police said a number of suspicious devices and other items were seized for forensic examination.

Police statement

Detectives from the Police Service of Northern Ireland's Terrorism Investigation Unit charged Mr Fletcher on Saturday evening, ahead of his court appearance on Monday. Detective Chief Inspector McCallum said the searches had led officers to locate suspicious devices, along with other items, which were taken for forensic examination. The charges are allegations, and the case will return to court later this month.

Sources: Press Association via Glasgow Times; PSNI statement via Great Driffield Radio, 2 November 2026.