Largest explosives haul in history found on man's farm who used Biden photos for target practice
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The FBI has arrested a man after discovering what they described as the biggest stockpile of "finished explosive devices" in its history. Brad Spafford was taken into custody at a farm outside Norfolk, Virginia, on a single count accusing him of illegally possessing an unregistered short-barrel rifle. But when agents searched his 20-acre property, they found a detached garage with more than 150 explosive devices inside.
Prosecutors said they mainly found pipe bombs, some of them labelled "lethal". Several bombs were found loaded into a wearable vest, according to court papers. Agents discovered more in a bedroom inside Spafford's house, loosely stuffed in a rucksack that had a patch shaped like a hand grenade and a logo reading "#NoLivesMatter".
No Lives Matter is a nihilistic, far-right ideology that primarily exists on encrypted online messaging apps like Telegram. The group promotes "targeted attacks, mass killings and criminal activity" and has "historically encouraged members to engage in self-harm and animal abuse".
Investigators said the bombs were "preliminarily assessed as the largest seizure by a number of finished explosive devices in FBI history". Spafford had allegedly used photos of President Joe Biden for target practice and believed that “political assassinations should be brought back.”.
According to the court papers, he had recently sought qualifications in sniper rifle shooting at a local range. Spafford's charging document says an unnamed neighbour reported he had continued to build bombs even after losing three fingers on his right hand in 2021 "while working with a homemade explosive device".
