Explosive devices (Picture credit: X)
The
Federal Bureau of Investigation
recently uncovered 150 explosive devices, mostly pipe bombs, at a Virginia home—a cache federal prosecutors have called the largest collection of "finished explosive devices" in the FBI's history. A Virginia man, Brad Spafford, has been arrested in connection with the discovery. He was initially taken into custody for possessing an unregistered short-barreled rifle.
Brad Spafford arrested
Brad Spafford was arrested on December 17 at a farm near Norfolk, following a single-count criminal complaint alleging his illegal possession of an unregistered short-barrel rifle.
150 explosive devices discovered
Upon searching Spafford's 20-acre property in Isle of Wight County, federal agents discovered over 150 explosive devices, primarily pipe bombs, in a detached garage. Some were marked "lethal." Additional pipe bombs were found inside Spafford's home within a backpack displaying a grenade-shaped patch and a "#NoLivesMatter" logo, according to prosecutors.
The "#NoLivesMatter" logo is associated with a
far-right ideology
promoting violence.
Prosecutors in US District Court in Norfolk submitted documents detailing Spafford's explosives to support their request to keep him detained until trial. They described the discovered explosives as the largest collection of "finished explosive devices" in FBI history.
Neighbor alerted authorities
The investigation into Spafford began in 2023 after a neighbor alerted authorities, as reported by the website Court Watch. The neighbor claimed Spafford lost three fingers on his right hand while working with a homemade explosive. According to the neighbor, Spafford was accumulating weapons and ammunition and had expressed being "preparing for something" he "would not be able to do alone."
The neighbor reported Spafford used President Biden's photos for target practice and believed "political assassinations should be brought back." After the attempted attack on then-President-elect Trump in July, Spafford allegedly told his neighbor he "hoped the shooter doesn't miss Kamala."
During an October visit to Spafford's farm, the neighbor, wearing a recording device, said Spafford discussed having various explosives and plans to fortify his property with "a 360-degree turret" for a .50-caliber rifle.