The FBI recently announced its largest seizure of homemade explosive devices in its history, following a raid on a farm in Isle of Wight County, Virginia.
Authorities discovered over 150 bombs, along with materials for further explosive devices.
The suspect, Brad Spafford, was arrested during the raid on December 17 after an investigation spurred by a neighbor’s tip.
An Unprecedented Discovery
The raid revealed a grim array of devices, with many found in unsecured locations, including a backpack in a bedroom, according to Digi24.
Some bombs were labeled "lethal," and a particularly volatile explosive, HMTD, was discovered stored dangerously close to food in a freezer accessible to children.
The HMTD compound, known for its instability, is highly sensitive to temperature changes and requires no detonator to explode.
Spafford’s property also contained vests loaded with explosives, indicating potential plans for use. Items were reportedly sorted in a garage by type and color, further highlighting the meticulous preparation behind the cache.
Disturbing Allegations
Court documents paint a troubling picture of Spafford's ideology and behavior.
He allegedly used images of President Joe Biden as target practice and expressed hope for Vice President Kamala Harris's assassination.
Authorities reported that Spafford was actively building bombs despite losing three fingers in 2021 during an incident involving an improvised explosive device.
In conversations recorded by a neighbor, Spafford discussed fortifying his property with a turret for a .50 caliber firearm and speculated on conspiracy theories involving missing children.
Spafford’s attorney disputes the government’s claims, stating that his client poses no genuine threat and criticizing the case as fearmongering.
The attorney pointed out that Spafford has no prior criminal record and emphasized the lack of direct evidence linking him to threats against individuals.
A federal judge initially ordered Spafford's release under electronic monitoring, but the decision is pending as prosecutors seek to keep him in custody.
