Police seize cache of 'cash machine' explosives

SOUTH African police say they have seized 2.5 tonnes of explosives of the type that robbers use to bomb banks' cash machines.

Police found the explosives in the bathroom of a house in a Johannesburg suburb. They raided the house after receiving a tip-off from a member of the public

"It's the biggest find we have discovered so far," a police spokesman told a local newspaper. "There were about 100 boxes, each containing 25kg of commercial explosives. Our investigations revealed it is the same type of explosives used to bomb ATMs."

Two people have reportedly been arrested and police are looking for a third suspect.

South Africa has one of the world's highest rates of violent crime, with 18,487 murders – about 50 a day – 36,190 rapes, and 14,201 reported carjackings in 2007-8.