A Virginia resident, Brad Spafford, is facing charges after authorities discovered a massive cache of homemade explosives at his home. The FBI has described the find as the largest stockpile of such devices in the agency's history. This discovery came after an initial arrest for an unregistered firearm violation.
Law enforcement officials detailed that Spafford, 36, had more than 150 homemade explosive devices, including pipe bombs. The search of his property, located in Isle of Wight County, revealed an alarming collection, with some devices labeled "lethal." Further, a jar of unstable explosive material was marked with warnings reading "dangerous" and "do not touch."
The investigation also revealed that Spafford had allegedly used images of President Joe Biden for target practice. An affidavit further noted that Spafford had previously suffered injuries from a homemade explosion and was believed to be stockpiling weapons and ammunition.
Adding to the concern, investigators discovered a backpack containing pipe bombs with a patch bearing the slogan “#NoLivesMatter,” associated with a far-right extremist ideology known for promoting violence. Prosecutors cited Spafford's expressions of support for political assassinations and recent sniper-rifle training as evidence of a potential danger.
The prosecution successfully argued to keep Spafford detained, citing the extreme risk he posed to the community and even those monitoring him. A federal judge granted the stay of release order.
In response, Spafford’s lawyer refuted the government's claims as unfounded "speculation and fear mongering," asserting that his client is a hardworking family man with no criminal record and no history of threats. The lawyer's filing argued that there is no evidence to show that Spafford posed a danger.
