The FBI found the largest cache of explosives at a Virginia farm

So far, the suspect has only been charged with possession of an unregistered short-barreled rifle, although investigators say there may be more charges.

The bombs were “preliminarily believed to be the largest seizure of improvised explosive devices in FBI history,” investigators said Tuesday.

Mr Spafford allegedly used photographs of US President Joe Biden to target him and said he hoped Vice President Kamala Harris would be killed.

According to court documents, he recently sought to qualify for sniper rifle marksmanship at a local range.

An unnamed neighbor said Mr. Spafford continued to build bombs in 2021 after losing three fingers on his right hand “while working with a homemade explosive device,” the charging document said.

Investigators say the neighbor, a former law enforcement officer, wore a recording device during a visit to Mr. Spafford’s 20-acre farm earlier this year.

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

An initial FBI assessment determined that the devices were “pipe bombs.” Most were in a separate garage and sorted by color. Some were labeled “deadly”.

Several bombs were found loaded into a wearable vest, court documents say.

More bombs were “found completely unsecured in a backpack” at home. The backpack was labeled “#nolivesmatter” on the outside, court documents state.

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

In addition to the pipe bombs, investigators say they found a highly volatile explosive called HMTD, which the FBI notes is so unstable that it can detonate simply by temperature changes and does not require a detonator to detonate.

According to court documents, the container of HMTD was labeled “Dangerous” and “Do Not Touch” and was kept in the freezer next to food accessible to children.

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

Mr. Spafford, who worked in a machine shop, said the children who went missing in the news were taken by the federal government to be trained as school shooters, according to court documents.

Mr. Spafford’s lawyer said Tuesday that the government’s claim that he is dangerous is “absolute speculation and fear mongering” because the suspect has no criminal record.

“Allegations that Mr. Spafford has ever threatened anyone and that anyone could be in danger because of his political views and comments are nonsense.” the lawyer wrote, external.

The federal judge overseeing the case ordered Mr. Spafford to be released on electronic monitoring.

However, that decision was put on hold as the government tried to keep the suspect in custody.