The FBI announced it discovered more than 150 bombs during a raid on a Virginia farm — believed to be the largest cache of its kind seized by the law enforcement agency in its history.
Brad Spafford was arrested on December 17 in Isle of Wight County, 180 miles (290 kilometers) south of Washington, D.C., after a tip that he was storing homemade guns and ammunition on the property he shares with his wife and two young children.
Investigators say some of the devices were found in a bedroom in an unsecured backpack labeled “#nolivesmatter” – an apparent reference to a far-right anti-government movement.
Mr Stafford's lawyer has denied he poses a danger to society and is seeking his client's release from pre-trial detention.
The suspect has so far 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 assessed as the largest seizure in terms of number of explosive devices ready in FBI history.”
Mr Stafford allegedly used photos of US President Joe Biden for target practice and expressed his hope of assassinating Vice President Kamala Harris.
He had recently sought qualifications in sniper rifle shooting at a local range, according to court papers.
A neighbour, who was not named, reported that Mr. Stafford continued making bombs even after he lost three fingers on his right hand in 2021 “while working with a homemade explosive device,” the charging document says.
Investigators say the neighbor, who worked in law enforcement, wore a recording device during a visit to Mr. Stafford's 20-acre farm earlier this year.
Evidence collected by the neighbor led FBI agents to search the property, where they found explosives scattered around the house, according to the charging document.
An initial FBI assessment found that the devices were “pipe bombs.” Most of them were in a separate garage, and were sorted by color. Some of them have been classified as “fatal.”
Several bombs were found loaded in a wearable vest, court papers said.
More bombs were found “completely unsecured in a backpack” in the house. The outside of the backpack bore the words “#nolivesmatter,” court papers said.
Nolivesmatter is a movement that promotes extremist ideology, targeted attacks, mass killings and criminal activity, and has encouraged members to engage in self-harm and animal abuse, according to the New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness.
In addition to the pipe bombs, investigators say they found a container containing a highly volatile explosive called HMTD, which the FBI notes is so unstable that it can be detonated simply by a temperature change and does not require a detonator to go off.
The HMTD jar was labeled “dangerous” and “do not touch” and was stored in the refrigerator next to food that the children could access, according to court papers.
The neighbor also told investigators that Mr. Stafford discussed fortifying the property with a 50-caliber firearm turret on the roof.
Mr. Stafford, who worked in a machine shop, said the missing children in the news had been taken by the federal government to be trained in school shootings, according to court papers.
Stafford's attorney said Tuesday that the government's claim that he is dangerous is “speculation and fear mongering,” because the suspect has no criminal record.
“There is no evidence in the record that Mr. Spafford ever threatened anyone, and the allegation that someone might be in danger because of his political views and comments is nonsensical.” Lawyer wrote.
The federal judge overseeing the case ordered Mr. Spafford released on electronic monitoring.
However, this decision is pending as the government seeks to keep the suspect in pretrial detention.
