A former Greek serviceman has been jailed for planting a potentially explosive device in public gardens in the centre of Edinburgh.

Nikolaos Karvounakis left the homemade bomb inside a box, bearing the slogan “F*** you all.”

He claimed to be a member of the International Terrorist Mafia, a Mexican eco-terror group.

A total of 58 nails, with many cut in half, were contained in the cardboard box, along with wiring and a battery taped to the inside.

It was found by a member of the public at a shelter in Edinburgh’s Princes Street Gardens and police carried out a controlled explosion.

Following the discovery of the device in January 2018, Karvounakis contacted a newspaper journalist with a photo of it and described himself as a “lover of nihilist anti-political violence”.

The 35 year-old’s DNA was found on adhesive tape used to make the bomb.

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He has been jailed for eight years and four months at the High Court in Edinburgh.

Following sentencing, Stephen McGowan, deputy crown agent for serious casework, said: “If this device had detonated, serious harm could have been done. Nikolaos Karvounakis put members of the public in danger through his reckless actions and this was wholly unacceptable.”

The court heard that Cretan-born Karvounakis completed his national service in the Greek Army before moving to Scotland in 2013.

Following the discovery of the device, investigations were conducted in the UK and abroad and intelligence was received which focused the enquiry on him.

Police discovered that he had bought the parts used in the construction of the device from DIY stores and on the internet.

Explosives experts found that he had closely followed an instructional video he referenced to build it.

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