Record bomb cache discovered in US home of conspiracy theorist
Kyiv • UNN
In Virginia, more than 150 improvised explosive devices were found in the home of a man who lost fingers to explosives. The suspect stored the bombs in his garage and backpack, as well as unstable explosives in a freezer.
The FBI has found the largest cache of "ready-made explosive devices" in the bureau's history during the arrest of a Virginia man. This was reported by UNN with reference to CBS News.
Details
Federal prosecutors were conducting a search warrant in the case of Brad Spafford, who was arrested on December 17 for allegedly possessing an unregistered short-barreled shotgun. During the investigation at Spafford's 20-acre farm in Isle of Wight County, investigators found "a stockpile of more than 150 improvised explosive devices" that prosecutors said were estimated to be pipe bombs. They stated that some of the bombs were labeled "lethal" and "preloaded in a wearable vest.
Most of the devices were allegedly found in a detached garage, while others were found in a backpack in his bedroom "completely unprotected." Prosecutors said that Spafford also "admitted to storing a can of HMTD, an explosive material that is so unstable that it can only explode as a result of friction when the temperature changes, in the freezer." Investigators found the jar, which was stored next to food and was labeled "dangerous" and "do not touch," the prosecutor's office said.
According to court documents, first reported by Court Watch, the investigation began in early 2023 after Spafford's neighbor told authorities that Spafford was keeping a gun and had lost three fingers on his right hand.
"Even after he lost his own fingers to the use of improvised explosive materials, he made the apparently remarkable decision to store extremely dangerous explosive material in the freezer of his home next to food that the entire family had access to," prosecutors said, arguing that the man ‘poses an extreme danger to society’ and should remain in custody.
The neighbor also told authorities that Spafford used photos of President Biden to practice shooting at a local shooting range. The neighbor said that Spafford believed that "political assassinations should be brought back" and that "the missing children who were on the news were taken by the federal government to train school shooters." After the attempted assassination of President-elect Donald Trump in July at a rally in Pennsylvania, Spafford allegedly told a neighbor that "he hoped the shooter didn't miss Kamala," prosecutors said.
His lawyers argue that he should be released pending trial, telling the court that he "has no criminal record, history of substance abuse or mental illness.
"There is no evidence in the case that Mr. Spafford has ever threatened anyone, and the claim that anyone could be in danger because of his political views and comments is preposterous," his lawyers wrote in a court filing on Tuesday.
