Federal agents recently uncovered one of the largest stockpiles of homemade explosives in U.S. history during a search of a Virginia man’s home. Brad Spafford, 36, was arrested last month on a firearms charge, which led authorities to discover more than 150 pipe bombs and other homemade explosive devices at his property in Isle, located northwest of Norfolk.
According to federal prosecutors, this is believed to be the largest seizure of finished explosive devices by the FBI. The bombs, along with bomb-making materials including fuses and plastic pipes, were found in a detached garage. Several additional devices were found unsecured in a backpack inside the home Spafford shares with his wife and two young children.
The authorities charged Spafford with possession of a firearm in violation of the National Firearms Act, alleging that he owned an unregistered short-barrel rifle. Prosecutors suggested that Spafford could face further charges related to the explosives. Defense attorneys have argued, however, that there is no evidence showing he planned to commit violence and questioned whether the devices were even capable of exploding without specialized assistance from bomb technicians.
The investigation began in 2023 when an informant tipped authorities about Spafford’s alleged stockpiling of weapons and ammunition. The informant also revealed that Spafford had suffered a disfiguring injury in 2021 while working on homemade explosives. Authorities discovered that Spafford had displayed extremist views, including using images of President Joe Biden for target practice and expressing support for political assassinations.
Spafford remains under house arrest pending further legal proceedings, while federal authorities continue to assess the potential danger posed by his stockpile.
