Hungarian Olympian arrested in bomb plot

A Hungarian former Olympic judo competitor was arrested after police found three backpacks containing three petrol-based bombs and numerous other explosive and detonation devices in a Peugeot 206 car at Nyugati tér in downtown Budapest on Thursday evening, the National Police announced.

Krisztián Tölgyesi, 33, represented Hungary at the Sydney Games in 2000. His parents are members of the group Lelkiismeret 88 (Self-consciousness 88), in which 88 symbolise "Heil Hitler," Népszabadság learnt.

Of the bombs found, three could be set off remotely and would have been enough to kill a large group of people. A container full of petrol was also found attached to the devices, along with nine smaller bombs that could be set off at timed intervals, Emergency Police demolition department head Imre Kiss said.

An individual with links to a far-right group has been detained, national police chief József Bencze said.

Tölgyesi and his accomplices, who have not yet been identified, planned to use the bomb during the October 23 commemorations Népszabadság wrote, adding that this was why the police had surrounded many sites with barriers, the daily notes.

If an attempt on official celebrations failed, the suspect was allegedly planning to detonate the bomb at the West End shopping centre near Nyugati tér. The police has heavily secured the building both inside and outside, Népszabadság added. The police detained the suspect based on information from the National Security Office (NBH).

Tölgyesi gave a detailed confession and admitted to having made the bomb. The court extended his detention by 30 days.

The National Right Protection Foundation undertook the defence of Tölgyesi. As the bombs were made when state television company MTV's headquarters were attacked two years ago, they are now useless, lawyer Ilona Novozánszky argued.

Tölgyesi is accused of abuse of explosives but is also expected to face terrorism charges, Népszabadság adds.

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