Husband in court on bomb plot murder charge

The husband of a pregnant woman was remanded in custody today charged with attempting to murder her and her eight-year-old son after a car blast in a village.

Former bomb disposal expert Nicholas Fabian, 32, of Highview, Vigo, near Meopham, Kent, also faced a charge of unlawful possession of ammunition.

His wife, Victoria Fabian, also 32, was transferred to a London hospital for specialist treatment after suffering terrible leg injuries in the explosion in a residents' car park.

Doctors believe Mrs Fabian's unborn child escaped unharmed from the blast, which happened just after 1pm last Friday in Highview in Vigo.

Her eight-year-old son, who was also in the car at the time, was taken to hospital as a precaution but released after being kept in for observation.

Appearing in the dock with two security guards and wearing a blue jumper, Fabian confirmed his name, address and date of birth during a five-minute hearing at Dartford Magistrates' Court.

There was no indication of plea and no bail application was made. Chair of the bench Margaret Lane remanded him in custody to appear at Maidstone Crown Court on March 22.

Yesterday relatives of Mrs Fabian said she had started "her long road to recovery" as the first picture of her was released.

In a statement issued through Kent Police, they said: "At the moment, all our energy and attention is focused on supporting Vicky and her children."

Fabian's mother, Kathleen Mitchell-Hewson, said he was due to be sent to Afghanistan shortly as a reservist, having left the Army in 2003.