FBI seizes record cache of explosives in history from Virginia farm

Brad Kenneth Spafford was arrested with at least 150 finished bombs in his custody

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The FBI has reportedly seized the largest collection of "finished explosive devices" in its history from a 20-acre farm near Norfolk, Virginia, owned by Brad Kenneth Spafford, 36. The Justice Department is seeking to keep Spafford in custody, alleging his involvement in anti-government extremism.

Spafford was arrested on 17 December on a single charge of possessing an unregistered short-barrel rifle. During a subsequent search of his property in Isle of Wight County, federal agents uncovered more than 150 explosive devices, including pipe bombs, some labelled “lethal.”

According to The New York Times, additional pipe bombs were found inside Spafford’s house, “loosely stuffed in a backpack bearing a patch shaped like a hand grenade and a logo reading '#NoLivesMatter.'”

Far-right ideology linked to explosives cache

The phrase "No Lives Matter" reportedly aligns with a nihilistic, far-right ideology that thrives on encrypted platforms like Telegram. It is considered an offshoot of the accelerationist movement, which advocates radical social change through violence and sabotage. Scholars believe the phrase may reference a song by pro-Trump Canadian rapper Tom MacDonald.

Court documents filed by federal prosecutors revealed Spafford had been under investigation since last year. Authorities were tipped off by a neighbour who reported that Spafford had lost three fingers on his right hand while working with homemade explosives and was stockpiling weapons and ammunition. The neighbour alleged Spafford had confided that he and his associates were “preparing for something” beyond his capacity to undertake alone.

Spafford's alleged threats

During a detention hearing, local outlet The Smithfield Times reported that Spafford expressed a desire to “bring back political assassination” and had used a photograph of President Joe Biden for target practice at a shooting range.

Despite the gravity of the allegations, a federal judge ordered Spafford’s release on a $25,000 bond into his mother’s custody, with conditions including electronic monitoring and the surrender of his passport. However, the judge stayed the release pending the government’s appeal.

As investigations continue, the case highlights growing concerns about domestic extremism and the potential for violence linked to far-right ideologies.