Makeshift chemistry lab in the bedroom!

An article in a regional newspaper today reported on an incident in which a terrorism unit, as well as the bomb squad, were called after ‘extremely dangerous’ chemicals were discovered in a residential home. The incident took place in November 2023, but police have only now revealed information about the incident post court appearances. 

In a 7am raid officers found 21 different chemicals, two of which were illegal to possess without a licence. Police executed a warrant at the home of Ashlea Henderson following intelligence that one of the occupants had obtained a list of hazardous chemicals which, if used together, could be used in the production of methamphetamine, a class A drug.

Henderson appeared at Crewe Magistrates Court on Tuesday, January 9, where he was handed a community order. The 29-year-old had earlier pleaded guilty to two counts of possessing prohibited substances, hydrochloric acid and sulphuric acid, without a licence. Due to the nature of the materials, officers from the North West Counter Terrorism Unit and the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) were called to the scene

There has been no further information on exactly what Henderson was trying to make with the chemicals, but the production of meth is a safe bet.