The suspect behind a petrol bomb attack on an asylum centre has been named - as counter-terrorism police step in to take over the investigation.

Police have identified Andrew Leak as the man who threw incendiary devices at the centre in Dover in the shocking attack on Sunday.

Leak, 66, was pictured laughing as he threw three fuel bottles strapped to fireworks at Western Jet Foil at the port town's docks, after driving more than 100 miles from his home in High Wycombe.

Two members of staff reported minor injuries from inside the centre, but no asylum seekers were harmed.

The smartly-dressed grey-haired suspect – said to have "severe mental-health difficulties" – then drove away from the area.

Detectives quickly found his white SUV at a nearby petrol station, with Leak dead inside.

A raid was carried out at his home 119 miles away from the scene of the incident, and a police spokesman said that material found there made it neccessary to draft teams from Counter Terrorism Policing South East (CPTSE) to take the lead.

"A search warrant was carried out at a property in the High Wycombe area in Buckinghamshire on Monday, and a number of items of interest were recovered, including digital media devices, which are being examined as quickly as possible," he added.

"Due to the nature of the evidence gathered so far, it is clear that officers with specialist knowledge, resources and experience are best placed to lead this work to determine the motivating factors.

"There is currently nothing to suggest the man involved was working alongside anyone else, and there is not believed to be any wider threat to the community in the High Wycombe area or in Dover."

Detective Chief Superintendent Olly Wright, head of CTPSE, said: “This was a traumatic incident for everyone involved, and the wider community, and we’re working hard to establish exactly what led to the events on Sunday morning.

“We understand that when Counter Terrorism Policing become involved, it can be worrying for some people, but I would like to reassure people that there is nothing to suggest any ongoing wider threat at this time.

“What appears clear is that this despicable offence was targeted and likely to be driven by some form of hate filled grievance, though this may not necessarily meet the threshold of terrorism.

"At this point, the incident itself has not been declared a terrorist incident, but this is being kept under review as the investigation progresses.”

The investigation into this incident continues and anyone with any information is asked to go to the Major Incident Public Portal here.

A number of hate-filled Facebook posts made by Leak on his personal page have come to light this afternoon.

The rambling posts lash out at a number of minority groups and suggest people should "stand up".