In September, police found more than 100 kilograms of illegally-stored explosives, detonators, and civilian and military ammunition cartridges at a home in Niinivaara. The most dangerous materials included 93 kilograms of TNT military explosives found in the suspect’s garage.
The Defence Forces Technical Research Centre has calculated the precise nature of the potential damage that could have been caused by the 93-kilogram load.
According to the researchers, if the TNT were to explode, it would have destroyed homes and claimed lives within a 100-metre radius. The blast itself would also have created shrapnel, which could have caused damage over an area spanning another 500 metres.
More explosives in shipping container
Police officials also discovered that the Joensuu man had illegally warehoused additional firepower in a shipping container at the Joensuu deep-water port.
Officials discovered a small cache of TNT, nearly 10 kilograms of dynamite, five kilograms of gunpowder 100 litres of fuel oil, a gas bottle, 100 detonators and three kilograms or 180 metres of explosive fuse.
The suspect was certified to handle explosives because of his profession as a blast manager.
The man is suspected of explosives violations and faces a maximum prison sentence of two years. Other possible charges include endangerment and concealment.
