A Virginia man was arrested after the largest cache of "finished explosive devices" was discovered at his farm by the FBI, The New York Times reported.
Brad Spafford was apprehended outside Norfolk on Tuesday, Dec. 17, after more than 150 explosive devices were found in a detached garage on his 20-acre property, the Times reported. The devices were mainly pipe bombs, some labeled as "lethal," prosecutors told the Times.
Pipe bombs were also found inside his bedroom — loosely stuffed in a backpack that bore a patch shaped like a hand grenade and a logo reading "#NoLivesMatter," the Times reported.
According to the Times, No Lives Matter is a nihilistic, far-right ideology that largely exists on encrypted online messaging apps like Telegram. The movement's adherents promote "targeted attacks, mass killings, and criminal activity" and have "historically encouraged members to engage in self-harm and animal abuse," a threat assessment by the New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness said.
A neighbor alerted authorities after Spafford lost three fingers on his right hand while working with a homemade explosive device, and he was stockpiling weapons and homemade ammunition, according to court papers filed by prosecutors.
The neighbor said Spafford used photographs of President Joe Biden for target practice at a local shooting range and believed that "political assassinations should be brought back," according to court papers.
In October, the neighbor visited Spafford at his farm while wearing a recording device, court papers said. In the recording, Spafford said he had various explosives at his property and that he had a 360-degree turret he wanted to mount a 50-caliber rifle on, according to court papers.
Sam Barron ✉
Sam Barron has almost two decades of experience covering a wide range of topics including politics, crime and business.
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