Two men were arrested last week after police recovered a "record haul" of chemicals that could potentially be used to make explosives.

The police also recovered rocket launchers, BNP literature and a nuclear biological suit. The chemical components recovered by police are believed to be the largest haul ever found at a house in Britain.

The arrests were covered by local newspapers and the news quickly spread to internet blogs. However none of the national media have yet covered the story, prompting many to question the silence given the headlines if the arrested were British Muslims.

Both men, Robert Cottage (49) and David Bolus Jackson (62), made separate appearances before a court charged with under the Explosive Substances Act of 1883 for being in possession of an explosive substance for an unlawful purpose.

Burnley Citizen quoted Superintendent Neil Smith as saying: "We are making inquiries in relation to what we have found at [Robert Cottage's] address and to establish what offences he may have committed.

"He's not a terrorist and it's not a bomb factory but we are interested in what we have seized from his house. It will take expert advice to establish exactly what he has got.

"He was arrested under the Explosives Act on suspicion of possessing chemical substances that aren't in themselves an offence to possess but if combined may be capable of making an explosion."

Cottage stood as a BNP candidate in the Pendle Council elections in May this year. The press described him as a former member of the party, however bloggers pointed out that his BNP membership could not have lapsed since it usually lasted until December.

He will now appear at Burnley Crown Court on October 23rd. The second man, David Jackson, was later released by the police.

But the arrests have raised more questions than answers. Why has the national media ignored so far such an important and significant story? Why were the two men charged under the Explosives Substances Act rather than under recent terrorism related legislation?

It seems we will have to wait until the 23rd for the answers to those questions.

Coverage on blogs: Pickled Politics, Ministry of Truth and Blood & Treasure.