Facebook photos led to arrest and discovery of explosive chemicals in ...

Updated November 09, 2014 11:49:18

Pictures posted on social media led police to search a house on Brisbane's southside where they found explosives, the Queensland Police Service says.

A 32-year-old Rochedale South man has been charged with several offences, including manufacturing explosives, following the discovery of explosives inside a Rochedale South home on Saturday afternoon.

Police have declared an emergent situation under the Public Safety Preservation Act and have evacuated families living in nearby homes as they carry out controlled explosives and analyse the chemicals.

The process was expected to take days.

At a press conference this morning, Superintendent Noel Powers said officers were responding to information from the public who had seen suspicious activity on Facebook.

'This is where we rely on information,' he said.

'If there is information out there of activity that causes people's suspicions to be aroused, don't be afraid to pick up the phone and call us, don't be afraid to report something that may be a little suspicious to you.'

Superintendent Powers said the man charged was not an avid bomb maker.

'[He's] someone with an unhealthy curiosity towards explosives, combined with a limited knowledge of chemistry - perhaps a more than average level of knowledge in chemistry - it's a lethal combination.'

Superintendent Powers said there was no evidence to suggest the incident was terrorism-related or had any links to this week's G20 leaders' summit in Brisbane.

The charged man will face the Beenleigh Magistrates Court tomorrow.

First posted November 09, 2014 11:40:45