A routine tip-off led FBI agents to an unprecedented discovery of homemade explosives at a Virginia farm where a man lived with his family.
According to BBC, the FBI has uncovered more than 150 bombs during a raid on Brad Spafford's property in Isle of Wight County, marking what investigators call the largest seizure of finished explosive devices in the agency's history.
The discovery came after authorities arrested Spafford on December 17, following intelligence about his weapons stockpile. The suspect, who shares the 20-acre property with his wife and two young children, had allegedly displayed concerning behavior, including using President Joe Biden's photos for target practice and expressing hopes for Vice President Kamala Harris's assassination.
A former law enforcement officer living nearby played a crucial role in exposing Spafford's activities. The neighbor, wearing a recording device during a visit to the property, gathered evidence that prompted the FBI investigation. This collaboration proved instrumental in uncovering the extensive cache of explosives scattered throughout the property.
The FBI's initial assessment revealed that most devices were pipe bombs stored in a detached garage and organized by color. Some bombs were chillingly labeled as "lethal," while others were found loaded into a wearable vest. More explosives were discovered in an unsecured backpack marked with "#nolivesmatter," suggesting connections to an extremist movement.
Investigators also found a particularly dangerous substance called HMTD stored in a freezer accessible to children. The highly volatile explosive was labeled "Dangerous" and "Do Not Touch," yet it was placed near food items, highlighting the reckless nature of the storage.
Spafford's lawyer contested the government's position, stating:
There is not a shred of evidence in the record that Mr Spafford ever threatened anyone and the contention that someone might be in danger because of their political views and comments is nonsensical.
The case has entered a complex legal phase, with a federal judge initially ordering Spafford's release with electronic monitoring. However, the government's appeal has temporarily halted this decision as they seek to maintain pre-trial detention.
The suspect currently faces charges only for possessing an unregistered short-barrelled rifle, though investigators indicate more charges are likely. Court documents reveal that Spafford continued manufacturing explosives even after losing three fingers in a 2021 accident involving a homemade explosive device.
The investigation revealed troubling aspects of Spafford's ideology and plans. Working at a machine shop, he had reportedly discussed fortifying his property with a roof-mounted turret for a 50-calibre firearm. His conspiratorial beliefs extended to claims about missing children being trained by the federal government as school shooters.
The #nolivesmatter movement, referenced on Spafford's explosive cache, promotes extremist ideology and encourages criminal activity. The New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness has identified this movement as advocating for targeted attacks, mass killings, and even self-harm and animal abuse.
Brad Spafford's arrest on December 17 in Isle of Wight County, Virginia, has exposed what the FBI considers its largest seizure of finished explosive devices. The discovery of more than 150 bombs, along with highly volatile explosives stored near children's food, has raised serious concerns about public safety.
While the suspect currently faces a single weapons charge, investigators continue building their case, suggesting additional charges may be forthcoming as they delve deeper into the alarming cache of explosives found just 180 miles south of Washington DC.
