Keith Richards 'liked pyrotechnics', so accused built bomb in the event he met the star

17 October 2013 - 11:16 By Bang Showbiz
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A man accused of plotting to blow up Keith Richards' house, claimed the bombs were a gift as he appeared in court to be arraigned on 112 charges this week.

Joseph C. Callahan, 69, from Connecticut – who was arrested nine days ago for stockpiling guns, ammunition and home-made explosives after he reportedly told police he intended to blow up The Rolling Stones guitarist's home – appeared in court to be arraigned on 112 counts of illegal possession of explosives, reckless endangerment, and manufacture of bombs on Wednesday, and insisted he was only building the weapons because he had heard that Richards loves explosives.

The retired chemist's lawyer told gossip website TMZ.com: "A friend of Mr. Callahan nine years ago met Keith Richards and he (Callahan) knew Keith Richards liked pyrotechnics, so he built this device in the event he met Keith Richards."

Callahan – who was deemed mentally unstable at the time of his arrest earlier this month – lives 10 miles away from Richards' home in Weston.

Armed forces were previously reported to have found 274 firearms, tens of thousands of rounds of ammunition and a huge amount of hazardous material in his five-bedroom home before authorities shut down the road and pulled in experts to deal with the dangerous equipment.

When asked by police about ammonium nitrate, Callahan allegedly replied: "That's the chemical used in the 1993 World Trade Centre bombing."

The case will continue next month and the defendant is expected to plead not guilty.

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