Juan Manuel Morales Sierra, the 21 year old arrested in Palma on Wednesday in possession of 140 kilos of explosive material today confessed to police that he had intended to bomb the Balearic Islands University (UIB), just as he had written in his diary.

In his statement given to officers today he admitted to having "total admiration" for the two youths (aged 17 and 18) who orchestrated the Columbine massacres in the USA in 1999.

Police officers confirmed that Juan Manuel Morales is "very intelligent, introverted, frustrated person, with issues with society in general and a penchant for Nazi symbols, but was acting alone and doesn't belong to any political group or gang".

"He has chosen to vent his frustration against students in general, which is why he had planned to attack the Balearic University, the islands' top educational establishment".

For the moment he has been charged with illegal possession of explosive material and now it will depend on the judge and the state prosecutor as to whether additional charges will be added.

In his diary and on other documents found in his home, the young man had expressed his hatred for society on the whole and especially for university students, hence his decision to place pipe bombs full of shrapnel inside the university buildings.

He also wrote in his diary of his intention to commit suicide straight after the massacre, imitating his "idols" Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold after their shooting spree in Columbine High School.

He also admitted to having acquired picklocks to manipulate the pipes chosen for the bombs and to break into a gun store to steal a weapon.

He has been remanded into custody pending further questioning.

The National Police revealed yesterday that they had been investigating him for five months after Internet surveillance picked up on his interest in explosive material.  His application for a shotgun licence was immediately stalled once Guardia Civil officers confirmed that the young man was the subject of an ongoing National Police investigation.