Latest news with #stockpiling
Washington Post
5 days ago
- Politics
- Washington Post
Man accused of stockpiling bombs, using Biden photo for target practice, pleads guilty
NORFOLK, Va. — A Virginia man pleaded guilty Friday in a federal case that accused him of stockpiling the largest number of finished explosives in FBI history and of using then-President Joe Biden's photo for target practice. Brad Spafford pleaded guilty in federal court in Norfolk to possession of an unregistered short barrel rifle and possession of an unregistered destructive device, according to court documents. Each count carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. His sentencing is scheduled for December. Federal authorities said they seized about 150 pipe bombs and other homemade devices last fall at Spafford's home in Isle of Wight County, which is northwest of Norfolk. The investigation into Spafford began in 2023 when an informant told authorities that Spafford was stockpiling weapons and ammunition, according to court documents. The informant, a friend and member of law enforcement, told authorities that Spafford was using pictures of then-President Joe Biden for target practice and that 'he believed political assassinations should be brought back,' prosecutors wrote. Two weeks after the assassination attempt of then-presidential candidate Donald Trump in 2024, Spafford told the informant, 'bro I hope the shooter doesn't miss Kamala,' according to court documents. Former Vice President Kamala Harris had recently announced she was running for president. On around the same day, Spafford told the informant that he was pursuing a sniper qualification at the local gun range, court records stated. Numerous law enforcement officers and bomb technicians searched the property in December. Spafford stored a highly unstable explosive material in a garage freezer next to 'Hot Pockets and frozen corn on the cob,' according to court documents. Investigators also said they found explosive devices in an unsecured backpack labeled '#NoLivesMatter.' Spafford has remained in jail since his arrest last December. U.S. District Judge Arenda L. Wright Allen ruled against his release last January, writing that Spafford has 'shown the capacity for extreme danger.' She also noted that Spafford lost three fingers in an accident involving homemade explosives in 2021. Spafford had initially pleaded not guilty to the charges in January. Defense attorneys had argued at the time that Spafford, who is married and a father of two young daughters, works a steady job as a machinist and has no criminal record. Defense attorney Jeffrey Swartz said at Spafford's January detention hearing that investigators had gathered information on him since January 2023, during which Spafford never threatened anyone. 'And what has he done during those two years?' Swartz said. 'He purchased a home. He's raised his children. He's in a great marriage. He has a fantastic job, and those things all still exist for him.' Investigators, however, said they had limited knowledge of the homemade bombs until an informant visited Spafford's home, federal prosecutors wrote in a filing. 'But once the defendant stated on a recorded wire that he had an unstable primary explosive in the freezer in October 2024, the government moved swiftly,' prosecutors wrote.
The Independent
5 days ago
- Politics
- The Independent
Man accused of stockpiling bombs, using Biden photo for target practice, pleads guilty
A Virginia man pleaded guilty Friday in a federal case that accused him of stockpiling the largest number of finished explosives in FBI history and of using then-President Joe Biden's photo for target practice. Brad Spafford pleaded guilty in federal court in Norfolk to possession of an unregistered short barrel rifle and possession of an unregistered destructive device, according to court documents. Each count carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. His sentencing is scheduled for December. Federal authorities said they seized about 150 pipe bombs and other homemade devices last fall at Spafford's home in Isle of Wight County, which is northwest of Norfolk. The investigation into Spafford began in 2023 when an informant told authorities that Spafford was stockpiling weapons and ammunition, according to court documents. The informant, a friend and member of law enforcement, told authorities that Spafford was using pictures of then-President Joe Biden for target practice and that 'he believed political assassinations should be brought back,' prosecutors wrote. Two weeks after the assassination attempt of then-presidential candidate Donald Trump in 2024, Spafford told the informant, 'bro I hope the shooter doesn't miss Kamala," according to court documents. Former Vice President Kamala Harris had recently announced she was running for president. On around the same day, Spafford told the informant that he was pursuing a sniper qualification at the local gun range, court records stated. Numerous law enforcement officers and bomb technicians searched the property in December. Spafford stored a highly unstable explosive material in a garage freezer next to 'Hot Pockets and frozen corn on the cob,' according to court documents. Investigators also said they found explosive devices in an unsecured backpack labeled '#NoLivesMatter.' Spafford has remained in jail since his arrest last December. U.S. District Judge Arenda L. Wright Allen ruled against his release last January, writing that Spafford has 'shown the capacity for extreme danger.' She also noted that Spafford lost three fingers in an accident involving homemade explosives in 2021. Spafford had initially pleaded not guilty to the charges in January. Defense attorneys had argued at the time that Spafford, who is married and a father of two young daughters, works a steady job as a machinist and has no criminal record. Defense attorney Jeffrey Swartz said at Spafford's January detention hearing that investigators had gathered information on him since January 2023, during which Spafford never threatened anyone. 'And what has he done during those two years?' Swartz said. 'He purchased a home. He's raised his children. He's in a great marriage. He has a fantastic job, and those things all still exist for him.' Investigators, however, said they had limited knowledge of the homemade bombs until an informant visited Spafford's home, federal prosecutors wrote in a filing. 'But once the defendant stated on a recorded wire that he had an unstable primary explosive in the freezer in October 2024, the government moved swiftly,' prosecutors wrote.
Associated Press
5 days ago
- Politics
- Associated Press
Man accused of stockpiling bombs, using Biden photo for target practice, pleads guilty
NORFOLK, Va. (AP) — A Virginia man pleaded guilty Friday in a federal case that accused him of stockpiling the largest number of finished explosives in FBI history and of using then-President Joe Biden's photo for target practice. Brad Spafford pleaded guilty in federal court in Norfolk to possession of an unregistered short barrel rifle and possession of an unregistered destructive device, according to court documents. Each count carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. His sentencing is scheduled for December. Federal authorities said they seized about 150 pipe bombs and other homemade devices last fall at Spafford's home in Isle of Wight County, which is northwest of Norfolk. The investigation into Spafford began in 2023 when an informant told authorities that Spafford was stockpiling weapons and ammunition, according to court documents. The informant, a friend and member of law enforcement, told authorities that Spafford was using pictures of then-President Joe Biden for target practice and that 'he believed political assassinations should be brought back,' prosecutors wrote. Two weeks after the assassination attempt of then-presidential candidate Donald Trump in 2024, Spafford told the informant, 'bro I hope the shooter doesn't miss Kamala,' according to court documents. Former Vice President Kamala Harris had recently announced she was running for president. On around the same day, Spafford told the informant that he was pursuing a sniper qualification at the local gun range, court records stated. Numerous law enforcement officers and bomb technicians searched the property in December. Spafford stored a highly unstable explosive material in a garage freezer next to 'Hot Pockets and frozen corn on the cob,' according to court documents. Investigators also said they found explosive devices in an unsecured backpack labeled '#NoLivesMatter.' Spafford has remained in jail since his arrest last December. U.S. District Judge Arenda L. Wright Allen ruled against his release last January, writing that Spafford has 'shown the capacity for extreme danger.' She also noted that Spafford lost three fingers in an accident involving homemade explosives in 2021. Spafford had initially pleaded not guilty to the charges in January. Defense attorneys had argued at the time that Spafford, who is married and a father of two young daughters, works a steady job as a machinist and has no criminal record. Defense attorney Jeffrey Swartz said at Spafford's January detention hearing that investigators had gathered information on him since January 2023, during which Spafford never threatened anyone. 'And what has he done during those two years?' Swartz said. 'He purchased a home. He's raised his children. He's in a great marriage. He has a fantastic job, and those things all still exist for him.' Investigators, however, said they had limited knowledge of the homemade bombs until an informant visited Spafford's home, federal prosecutors wrote in a filing. 'But once the defendant stated on a recorded wire that he had an unstable primary explosive in the freezer in October 2024, the government moved swiftly,' prosecutors wrote.
The Guardian
09-07-2025
- Business
- The Guardian
EU urged to build stockpiles to prepare for pandemic, natural disaster or invasion
The EU should develop stockpiles of food, medicine, generators and raw materials to be better prepared for a military invasion, pandemic or natural disaster, the European Commission has said. Outlining its first-ever strategy on stockpiling, the EU executive said on Wednesday member states should also consider emergency supplies of water purification products, equipment to repair undersea cables, drones and mobile bridges for use in conflicts. Earlier this year the European public was urged to stockpile enough food, water and essentials for 72 hours to cope with a military attack, natural disaster, power cut or major industrial accident. As part of the EU's preparedness strategy, officials are working out what governments should stockpile and how to bolster readiness for a health emergency, such as a pandemic, antimicrobial resistance, chemical, nuclear or biological threats. The plans reflect lessons from the Covid pandemic, when EU member states scrambled to secure masks and other medical kit for themselves, leaving shortages for those most in need. They are also inspired by a handful of EU governments – named by the commission as Finland, Estonia and the Czech Republic – that are known to stockpile goods. The EU should have regularly updated non-exhaustive lists of essential goods tailored to different crises, according to the strategy. By 2026 the EU intends to set up a critical raw materials centre to jointly buy such goods on behalf of interested companies, which could also be tasked with organising stockpiles. By the same year, the EU will have a list of medicines and medical technologies to be prioritised for stockpiling or joint procurement. A loan scheme backed by the European Investment Bank to encourage small companies and startups to develop innovative medicines and medical technologies will have its budget doubled to €200m by 2027. The bloc is also working to develop a wastewater monitoring system that would 'act like an early warning radar' to detect infectious diseases before symptoms appear. During the pandemic, public health experts said sewage samples provided a cost-effective way of assessing health threats. The EU already has a fleet of firefighting planes and helicopters, medical evacuation planes, medical equipment and field hospitals. As the European wildfire season intensifies, with firefighters still battling the flames on the outskirts of Marseille on Wednesday, the commission said additional helicopters or light planes would be needed to protect areas newly threatened by wildfire. The EU commissioner for crisis management, Hadja Lahbib, said: 'We know the threats we face … hybrid attacks, power blackouts, extreme weather and spreading diseases. These are no longer distant risks. That is why we are moving preparedness from the sidelines to the frontline of our defence.' The latest strategy comes after the Danish prime minister, Mette Frederiksen, reiterated her view that the EU should be ready to defend itself by 2030. 'Russia's military rearming means that they could – within two to five years – pose a credible military threat to Europe and Nato,' she told the European parliament on Tuesday.
The Guardian
09-07-2025
- Business
- The Guardian
EU should build stockpiles to prepare for pandemic, natural disaster or invasion
The EU should develop stockpiles of food, medicine, generators and raw materials to be better prepared for a military invasion, pandemic or natural disaster, the European Commission has said. Outlining its first-ever strategy on stockpiling, the EU executive said on Wednesday member states should also consider emergency supplies of water purification products, equipment to repair undersea cables, drones and mobile bridges for use in conflicts. Earlier this year the European public was urged to stockpile enough food, water and essentials for 72 hours to cope with a military attack, natural disaster, power cut or major industrial accident. As part of the EU's preparedness strategy, officials are working out what governments should stockpile and how to bolster readiness for a health emergency, such as a pandemic, antimicrobial resistance, chemical, nuclear or biological threats. The plans reflect lessons from the Covid pandemic, when EU member states scrambled to secure masks and other medical kit for themselves, leaving shortages for those most in need. They are also inspired by a handful of EU governments – named by the commission as Finland, Estonia and the Czech Republic – that are known to stockpile goods. The EU should have regularly updated non-exhaustive lists of essential goods tailored to different crises, according to the strategy. By 2026 the EU intends to set up a critical raw materials centre to jointly buy such goods on behalf of interested companies, which could also be tasked with organising stockpiles. By the same year, the EU will have a list of medicines and medical technologies to be prioritised for stockpiling or joint procurement. A loan scheme backed by the European Investment Bank to encourage small companies and startups to develop innovative medicines and medical technologies will see its budget doubled to €200m by 2027. The bloc is also working to develop a wastewater monitoring system that would 'act like an early warning radar' to detect infectious diseases before symptoms appear. During the pandemic, public health experts said sewage samples provided a cost-effective way of assessing health threats. The EU already has a fleet of firefighting planes and helicopters, medical evacuation planes, medical equipment and field hospitals. As the European wildfire season intensifies, with firefighters still battling the flames on the outskirts of Marseille on Wednesday, the commission said additional helicopters or light planes would be needed to protect areas newly threatened by wildfire. The EU commissioner for crisis management, Hadja Lahbib, said: 'We know the threats we face … hybrid attacks, power blackouts, extreme weather and spreading diseases. These are no longer distant risks. That is why we are moving preparedness from the sidelines to the frontline of our defence.' The latest strategy comes after the Danish prime minister, Mette Frederiksen, reiterated her view that the EU should be ready to defend itself by 2030. 'Russia's military rearming means that they could – within two to five years – pose a credible military threat to Europe and Nato,' she told the European parliament on Tuesday.
