The FBI says more than 150 bombs were found during a raid on a Virginia farm in what is believed to be the largest such bomb seizure in the law enforcement agency’s history.

Brad Spafford was arrested on Dec. 17 in Isle of Wight County, 180 miles (290 kilometers) south of Washington, D.C., after reports he was sleeping with his wife and two young children Weapons and homemade ammunition are stored on shared property.

Investigators said some of the devices were found in an unsecured backpack in a bedroom labeled “#nolivesmatter” – an apparent reference to the far-right anti-government movement.

A lawyer for Mr Stafford denies he is a danger to the community and is seeking his client’s release from pre-trial detention.

So far, the suspect has only been charged with possessing an unregistered short-barreled rifle, though investigators said more charges are possible.

Investigators said Tuesday that the bombs were “preliminarily assessed to be the largest number of completed explosive devices ever seized in FBI history.”

Mr Stafford is said to have used a photo of US President Joe Biden for target practice and expressed a desire for Vice President Kamala Harris to be assassinated.

Court documents show he was recently seeking qualifications to shoot a sniper rifle at a local range.

Charging documents say an unnamed neighbor reported that Mr. Stafford continued to make bombs after losing three fingers on his right hand “using a homemade explosive device” in 2021.

Investigators said the neighbor, who worked in law enforcement, wore a recording device when he visited Mr. Stafford’s 20-acre farm earlier this year.

Based on evidence gathered by neighbors, FBI agents searched the property and found explosives scattered around the home, according to charging documents.

An initial FBI assessment found the devices to be “pipe bombs.” Most are in a detached garage and sorted by color. Some are labeled “lethal”.

Court documents say several bombs were found inside a wearable vest.

“More bombs were found, completely unsecured in backpacks” at the home. The backpack had a “#nolivesmatter” sticker on the outside, court documents said.

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

In addition to the pipe bombs, investigators said they also found a can of a highly volatile explosive called HMTD, which the FBI noted is so unstable that it requires only a change in temperature to explode and does not require a detonator. .

The HMTD jars were labeled “danger” and “do not touch” and were stored in the refrigerator next to food within reach of children, court documents said.

The neighbor also told investigators that Mr. Stafford had discussed fortifying the property by installing a 50-caliber gun turret on the roof.

Mr. Stafford, who works at a machine shop, also said children missing in the news had been taken away by the federal government for school shooting training, according to court documents.

An attorney for Stafford said Tuesday that the government’s assertion that he is dangerous is “pure speculation and fear-mongering” because the suspect has no criminal record.

“There is no evidence in the record that Mr. Spafford ever threatened anyone, and the suggestion that someone might be in danger because of their political views and speech is absurd,” the lawyer wrote.

The federal judge overseeing the case ordered Mr. Spafford’s release under electronic monitoring.

However, the decision was put on hold as the government sought to keep the suspects in pretrial detention.