Aiexpress – A Virginia man was detained after federal agents discovered a stash of manufactured explosive devices at his home, some of which were labeled as “lethal,” marking the greatest discovery of finished explosive devices in FBI history, according to officials.
Brad Spafford was arrested on December 17 at a farm in Smithfield, about 29 miles northwest of Norfolk, and charged with unlawful possession of an unregistered short-barrel rifle, according to court documents.
During a search of his residence, FBI investigators discovered the firearm, as well as “a stockpile of more than 150 homemade improvised explosive devices, assessed as pipe bombs,” according to the detention report.
“Some of these devices were labeled ‘fatal.’ The majority of the devices were discovered in a detached garage, where the FBI also discovered tools and manufacturing supplies such as homemade fuses and PVC pipe,” the report states. “Several additional apparent pipe bombs were found in a backpack in the home’s bedroom, completely unsecured.”
The message “#nolivesmatter” was scribbled outside the backpack, according to prosecutors. No Lives Matter adheres to an extremist ideology that supports mass homicides, criminal behavior, and targeted attacks, and has previously pushed adherents to engage in self-harm or animal abuse, according to the New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness.
According to the report, Spafford lived at the residence with two small children.
Spafford allegedly told officials that he stored a jar of an explosive chemical in his freezer that is so unstable that it can detonate due to friction or temperature fluctuations, according to the affidavit.
The court complaint included photos of a container labeled “Dangerous” and “Do Not Touch” next to what looked to be Hot Pockets and other food items in the freezer.
Prosecutors claim Spafford used photographs of the president for target practice, professed support for political assassinations, and recently sought credentials in sniper rifle shooting at a local range.
They claimed that his release would pose a “extreme danger” to the individuals he lives with, the community, and “the pretrial officers who will be tasked with periodically inspecting his residence for firearms including dangerous and unstable explosives,” according to the memo.
Spafford’s attorney did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Spafford’s inquiry began last year, when authorities learned from a source that he had maimed his hand while working with a homemade explosive device, according to officials.
According to court filings, the source reportedly said Spafford was accumulating firearms and homemade ammo.
Spafford allegedly told the source that he makes approximately 50 rounds of ammo per day.