The FBI says it discovered more than 150 bombs during a raid on a farm in Virginia – believed to be the largest such seizure the law enforcement agency has made in its history.
Brad Spafford was arrested on December 17 in Isle of Wight County, 180 miles (290 km) south of Washington DC, after a tip that he was storing homemade guns and ammunition at the property he shares with his wife and two young children.
Investigators say some of the devices were found in a bedroom in an unprotected backpack labeled “#nolivesmatter” — an apparent reference to the far-right, anti-government movement.
Mr Stafford’s lawyer has denied he is a danger to the community and is seeking his client’s release from custody before trial.
So far, the suspect has only been charged with possession of an unregistered short-barreled rifle, although investigators say more charges are likely.
Investigators said Tuesday that the bombs were “preliminarily estimated to be the largest seizure of improvised explosive devices in FBI history.”
Mr Stafford allegedly used photographs of US President Joe Biden as a target and expressed the hope that Vice President Kamala Harris would be killed.
He recently sought sniper marksmanship qualifications at a local shooting range, according to court documents.
The indictment document states that the unnamed neighbor reported that Mr. Stafford continued to make bombs even after he lost three fingers on his right hand in 2021 “while working with a homemade explosive device.”
The neighbour, who used to work for the police, carried a recording device during a visit to Mr Stafford’s 20-acre farm earlier this year, investigators say.
Evidence gathered by a neighbor led FBI agents to search the property, where they found explosives strewn around the house, according to the charging document.
An initial assessment by the FBI indicated that the devices were “pipe bombs.” Most were in a separate garage and were sorted by color. Some are labeled “lethal.”
Several bombs were found loaded into a body vest, according to court documents.
Multiple bombs “were found completely unsecured in a backpack” in the home. The outside of the backpack was marked “#nolivesmatter,” according to court documents.
Nolivesmatter is a movement that promotes extremist ideology, targeted attacks, mass murder and criminal activity, and has encouraged members to self-harm and abuse animals, according to the New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness.
In addition to the pipe bombs, investigators say they found a jar of a highly volatile explosive called HMTD, which the FBI notes is so unstable that it can detonate just by changing temperatures and doesn’t need a detonator to detonate.
The bottle of HMTD was labeled “Dangerous” and “Do Not Touch” and was stored in the freezer next to food accessible to children, court records state.
The neighbor also told investigators that Mr. Stafford discussed fortifying the property with a .50-caliber gun turret on the roof.
Mr. Stafford, who worked in a machine shop, also said the missing children in the news were taken by the federal government to be trained as school shooters, according to court documents.
Lawyer Mr. Stafford said Tuesday that the government’s claim that he was dangerous was “speculation and fear-mongering” because the suspect had no criminal record.
“There is not a shred of evidence in the record that Mr. Spafford ever threatened anyone and the claim that anyone could be in danger because of his political views and comments is preposterous,” – wrote the lawyer.
The federal judge overseeing the case ordered the release of Mr. Spafford with electronic monitoring.
However, that decision is pending as the government seeks to keep the suspect in pre-trial detention.
