A Virginia man named Brad Spafford was arrested after an investigation that led to the discovery of what has been described as the largest cache of homemade explosives in FBI history. This incident took place around December 17, 2024, when Spafford was initially charged with possessing an unregistered short-barrel rifle. During a search of his 20-acre property in Isle of Wight County, near Smithfield, Virginia, federal agents uncovered over 150 homemade improvised explosive devices, primarily pipe bombs. Some of these devices were labeled as "lethal," and investigators found them in various locations including a detached garage, inside the home in an unsecured backpack, and even some preloaded into a wearable vest.
 

Additional findings included bomb-making materials, tools, and a notebook with "recipes" for explosives, as well as a jar of HMTD, a highly volatile explosive material, stored dangerously near household food items. Spafford's background included a previous incident where he lost three fingers in an explosion while working with homemade explosives in July 2021, which had prompted the neighbor's initial report to authorities. The investigation also revealed that Spafford allegedly used pictures of President Joe Biden for target practice and had expressed support for political assassinations, though his defense argued there was no evidence he was planning violence or had threatened anyone.
 

This case has drawn significant attention due to the sheer number of explosive devices found, the potential danger they posed to the community, especially given the presence of Spafford's wife and two young children at the home, and the extremist views Spafford reportedly held, including his association with the "#NoLivesMatter" ideology linked to far-right extremism. Legal proceedings are ongoing with Spafford facing charges related to the firearms violation, with prosecutors indicating more charges might follow. His lawyers have argued for his release on the grounds that he has no criminal history and there's no direct evidence linking him to planning any violent acts.\\n\\nPosts on X have echoed these sentiments, discussing the severity of the explosives found, the potential threat to public safety, and the political implications of Spafford's alleged beliefs and actions.