The Czech police have arrested a man suspected of planning attacks similar to those carried out in Norway by Anders Breivik.

The news was reported Saturday by BBC, citing Czech authorities, who found an assault rifle, explosives, ammunition and police clothing in the apartment of the 29-year-old man.

He has been detained in the eastern city of Ostrava a week ago, after the police received a tipoff that he was planning to detonate a large explosive device crafted from an aircraft bomb. The man was carrying a remote controlled detonator at the time of the arrest.

Police searched the apartment on August 10, but have only now disclosed details of what was found.

The BBC's correspondent in Prague says police in Ostrava were alerted to the suspect because he used the name of Breivik in email correspondence.

On July 22 2011, Breivik, a right-wing militant, dressed as a police officer, killed eight people in a bomb attack in Oslo before gunning down another 69 in a youth camp on the island of Utoeya.

Judges are to rule next week whether he is sane or insane, and therefore whether he will be given a long prison sentence or be sent to a secure psychiatric ward.