A 37-year-old man has appeared in court after police discovered a homemade explosive device during a raid at a home in Pitsea, Essex. Ben Banham was arrested on 10 March 2026 after officers from Essex Police carried out a planned search at a property in Rokescroft.
During the operation, a 100-metre exclusion zone was set up around the street as a precaution. Around 100 homes were temporarily evacuated while specialists from the Army Explosive Ordnance Disposal team worked to make the device safe.
Ben Banham has been charged with making an explosive substance with the intent to endanger life or injure property. Chief Inspector Paul Hogben, the district commander for Basildon, stated that the investigation is not being treated as a terror-related matter.
Police confirmed there is no evidence that any other suspects or groups are involved in the incident. The case is being managed by Basildon detectives, and the suspect appeared at Southend Magistrates’ Court on 12 March 2026.
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