FBI finds largest cache of explosives on Virginia farm

The FBI says it discovered more than 150 bombs during a raid on a farm in Virginia, believed to be the largest such cache seized by the law enforcement agency in its history.

Brad Spafford was arrested on December 17 in Isle of Wight County, 180 miles south of Washington, DC, after receiving a tip that he was storing homemade weapons 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.

A lawyer for Stafford denied he is a danger to the community and is seeking his client’s release from custody.

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 assessed as the largest seizure by number of completed explosive devices in FBI history.”

Stafford had allegedly used photographs of US President Joe Biden for target practice and expressed hope that Vice President Kamala Harris would be assassinated.

He had recently applied for qualifications in sniper rifle shooting at a local shooting range, according to court documents.

The charging document says an anonymous neighbor reported that Stafford had continued making bombs even after losing three fingers on his right hand in 2021 “while working with a homemade explosive device.”

The neighbor, who used to work in law enforcement, wore a recording device during a visit to Stafford’s 20-acre farm earlier this year, investigators say.

Evidence gathered by the neighbor led FBI agents to search the property, where they found explosives scattered throughout a home, according to the charging document.

An initial FBI assessment found the devices were “pipe bombs.” Most were in detached garages and were classified by color. Some were labeled “lethal.”

Several loaded bombs were found in a portable vest, according to court documents.

More bombs “were found completely loose in a backpack” in the house. The outside of the backpack was labeled “#nolivesmatter,” according to court documents.

Nolivesmatter is a movement that promotes extremist ideology, targeted attacks, mass murder and criminal activity, and has encouraged its members to self-harm and mistreat animals, according to the New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness.

In addition to the pipe bombs, investigators say they found a vial of a highly volatile explosive called HMTD, which the FBI says is so unstable that it can explode simply with a change in temperature and does not require a detonator to explode.

The HMTD vial was labeled “Dangerous” and “Do Not Touch” and was stored in a freezer next to food accessible to children, according to court documents.

The neighbor also told investigators that Stafford had discussed fortifying the property with a turret for a .50-caliber handgun on the roof.

Stafford, who worked in a machine shop, had also said that the federal government had taken missing children in the news to train them as school shooters, according to court documents.

A lawyer for Stafford said Tuesday that the government’s claim that he was dangerous was “speculation and scaremongering” because the suspect had no criminal record.

“There is not the slightest bit 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 nonsense.” the lawyer wrote.

The federal judge overseeing the case ordered Spafford released under electronic monitoring.

However, that decision is on hold while the government seeks to keep the suspect in preventive detention.