Spanish police have arrested a 21-year-old man in Palma de Mallorca on suspicion of plotting to bomb the University of the Balearic Islands, BBC News said.

The suspect was seized as he received 140kg (310lb) of ingredients for explosives, apparently to be used for a Columbine-style massacre, police said.

He reportedly kept a diary where he wrote about hating society and that he was ready to die in his attack.

The suspect is believed to have been planning to plant pipe bombs on campus.

He was identified only by his initials, JMMS.

Montserrat Casas, the rector of UIB, as the university is known, said she was relieved that a tragedy had been avoided thanks to police action.

There was no evidence, she said, that the detainee had ever studied at UIB or had had any other connection to it, nor had the university ever received any threatening letters.

The detainee is said to have initially tried to purchase guns to carry out the attack but then opted for bombs and was arrested at 10:30 local time (08:30 GMT) on Wednesday, October 3 as he received the explosives.

Police released a photo of the explosive ingredients, including ammonium and potassium nitrate, both used in fertilisers; sulphuric and nitric acid; and sodium sulphide.

UIB, which is located in Palma, has 16,400 students.