BRITISH anti terrorist officers are searching for up to 180lb of Semtex believed to be hidden by an IRA team.
Police believe the Semtex, which was being prepared for a "massive" IRA campaign in the capital, targeting gas, water and electricity installations, may have been concealed near the two "bomb making factories" discovered in south London.
Forensic experts continued the search, expected to last for at least a week, of the two addresses in Tooting and Peckham.
Scotland Yard sources said that the bomb making components for up to 36 devices were being electrically charged for use "just a few hours" after anti terrorist officers raided the houses early on Monday.
Police believe the devices would have been similar to a new design first seen in an explosives find at Clonaslee, Co Laois, two weeks ago.
Seven men, some of whom are from Northern Ireland, arrested during the raids, are being questioned at Paddington Green police station.