Headline: Virginia Man Arrested After FBI Discovers Massive Cache of Home-Made Bombs
Subhead: The incident marks one of the largest seizures of its kind in FBI history.
Article:
NORFOLK, VA – Federal agents have uncovered what may be one of the largest stashes of home-made explosives ever discovered, following the arrest of a Virginia man on a firearms-related charge last month, according to a federal court document.
More than 150 fully-built pipe bombs and other improvised explosive devices (IEDs) were seized when Brad Spafford‘s residence northwest of Norfolk was searched in December, prosecutors revealed in a motion filed Monday. Federal authorities believe this to be "the largest number of completed explosive devices ever recovered in the history of the FBI".
The majority of the bombs were found in a detached garage on Spafford’s property in Isle of Wight County, along with fuses and plastic tubing used in their construction. Prosecutors noted that "several more apparent homemade bombs were found in a backpack in the home, completely unsecured".
Spafford, 36, was charged with violating the National Firearms Act by possessing an unregistered short-barreled rifle. Prosecutors have indicated he faces "numerous potential additional charges related to the explosives".
Defense lawyers argued in a motion Tuesday that authorities have not shown evidence that Spafford planned to carry out any violent acts, and noted his lack of prior criminal record. They also questioned the usability of the devices, stating that "professional explosive technicians had to manipulate the devices to make them detonate".
"The record does not demonstrate that Mr. Spafford has threatened anyone," lawyers Lawrence Woodward and Jerry Swartz wrote, labeling claims of potential danger due to Spafford’s political views "absurd".
The investigation began in 2023 after an informant told authorities Spafford was stockpiling weapons and ammunition. The informant, a friend, told investigators Spafford had injured his hand in 2021 while working with homemade explosives, and that Spafford used images of President Joe Biden for target practice, suggesting he believed "political assassinations should return".
On December 17, numerous law enforcement officers and bomb technicians searched Spafford’s property, discovering the rifle and devices, some marked "lethal" and loaded into a wearable vest. Most were detonated on-site due to safety concerns, but several were preserved for further analysis.
In a hearing Tuesday, U.S. Magistrate Judge Lawrence Leonard ruled Spafford could be released to his mother’s home under home detention, but agreed to keep him detained pending further government arguments.
Prosecutors responded by reiterating their concerns about Spafford’s dangerousness, citing his homemade "lethal" bombs, possession of riot gear, advocacy for political assassinations, and use of presidential images for target practice.
