Latest news with #explosives
South China Morning Post
14 hours ago
- South China Morning Post
South Korean police uncover bomb cache after father kills son at birthday party
What was meant to be a birthday celebration on Sunday in Incheon's Songdo neighbourhood ended in a shocking act of violence and the discovery of a cache of home-made explosive devices. According to police in South Korea , 63-year-old Cho fatally shot his 34-year-old son with a home-made shotgun during a family gathering attended by the son's wife, their two young children and several friends. The father fired two rounds into his son's chest and abdomen after stepping out briefly during the evening and returning with a gun he had crafted himself. After Cho fled the scene in a car, police apprehended him three hours later in Seoul's Seocho district. Inside the vehicle, officers discovered 10 more home-made firearms, 11 metal pipes likely intended as additional barrels and 86 rounds of improvised buckshot – some already loaded, according to Yonhap News TV. The investigation widened to Cho's home in Seoul's Dobong district, where police uncovered 15 improvised explosive devices. Constructed from plastic bottles filled with thinner and connected to timers and ignition devices, several were set to detonate at noon the next day. Authorities evacuated more than 100 residents and safely defused the explosives. When asked about his motive, Cho told investigators the killing stemmed from long-standing resentment between him and his son, rooted in a bitter divorce two decades earlier, Dong-A Ilbo reported.
BreakingNews.ie
21 hours ago
- BreakingNews.ie
Man (34) pleads guilty over links to importing explosives, guns and ammo
A 34-year-old man has pleaded guilty to facilitating a criminal organisation to import explosives, firearms and ammunition into the State. Mark McCourt, with an address at Edenerieve, Newry, Co Down, appeared before the Special Criminal Court on Monday where his defence counsel Brendan Grehan SC said he could be arraigned on six counts on the basis that they are sample counts. Advertisement McCourt pleaded guilty that between February 10, 2023 and July 19th, 2024, both dates inclusive, within the State, with knowledge of the existence of a criminal organisation, did participate in or contribute to activity intending to facilitate the commission by the said criminal organisation or any of its members, of a serious offence, to wit the importation in the State of Firearms and Ammunition and Explosives. He further admitted to unlawfully having in his possession two .233 Remington Calibre barrels from AR-15 pattern semi-automatic rifles in circumstances giving rise to a reasonable inference that he did not possess it for a lawful purpose on July 19 2024 at John St, Blackstick, Ardee, Co Louth. McCourt also pleaded guilty on the same date at the same location to unlawfully having in his possession nine assorted 9mm luger calibre barrels, eight frames for Sig Sauer semi-automatic pistols, a frame for a Canik semi-automatic pistol and four slides for a Sig Sauer model P320 9mm Lugar Calibre semi-automatic pistol in circumstances giving rise to a reasonable inference that he did not possess it for a lawful purpose. Mr Grehan requested that a governor's report be sought in respect of his client and asked that a date for sentencing be fixed before the end of term. Advertisement Ms Justice Karen O'Connor directed that a governor's report be prepared and set a date of Monday July 28 for the sentence hearing.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Virginia man who cheered 'political assassinations' pleads guilty after 150 pipe bombs are seized from home
A Virginia man charged with stockpiling the largest number of finished explosives in FBI history and accused of making threatening comments about politicians has pleaded guilty in federal court to possession of an unregistered short barrel rifle and possession of unregistered destructive devices. Authorities seized around 150 pipe bombs and other explosive devices from Brad Spafford's home near Norfolk last fall, according to court documents. Spafford was also accused by prosecutors of using former President Joe Biden's photo for target practice, saying "he believed political assassinations should be brought back" and telling someone shortly after President Donald Trump's assassination attempt, "Bro, I hope the shooter doesn't miss Kamala," according to an informant. Man Arrested Near 'No Kings' Protest Allegedly Had Stash Of Pipe Bombs At Home The investigation into Spafford began in 2023, when the informant, who is in law enforcement, told authorities Spafford was stockpiling ammunition and weapons. Authorities found a highly unstable explosive material in a freezer next to frozen foods and more explosive material inside a backpack that said "#NoLivesMatter" while searching his home in December. Read On The Fox News App Fbi Deputy Director Dan Bongino Claims Bureau 'Closing In' On Suspects Who Planted Jan. 6 Dc Pipe Bombs Spafford has remained in custody since his arrest in December, when a judge ruled he had "shown the capacity for extreme danger." He originally pleaded not guilty in January, and his defense argued he should be released because he had a steady job and no criminal record. Spafford, who is married with two young daughters, lost three fingers in a homemade explosives accident in 2021, the judge noted. Spafford could face 10 years in prison on each charge and is scheduled to be sentenced in December. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Original article source: Virginia man who cheered 'political assassinations' pleads guilty after 150 pipe bombs are seized from home
Fox News
3 days ago
- Politics
- Fox News
Virginia man who cheered 'political assassinations' pleads guilty after 150 pipe bombs are seized from home
A Virginia man charged with stockpiling the largest number of finished explosives in FBI history and accused of making threatening comments about politicians has pleaded guilty in federal court to possession of an unregistered short barrel rifle and possession of unregistered destructive devices. Authorities seized around 150 pipe bombs and other explosive devices from Brad Spafford's home near Norfolk last fall, according to court documents. Spafford was also accused by prosecutors of using former President Joe Biden's photo for target practice, saying "he believed political assassinations should be brought back" and telling someone shortly after President Donald Trump's assassination attempt, "Bro, I hope the shooter doesn't miss Kamala," according to an informant. The investigation into Spafford began in 2023, when the informant, who is in law enforcement, told authorities Spafford was stockpiling ammunition and weapons. Authorities found a highly unstable explosive material in a freezer next to frozen foods and more explosive material inside a backpack that said "#NoLivesMatter" while searching his home in December. Spafford has remained in custody since his arrest in December, when a judge ruled he had "shown the capacity for extreme danger." He originally pleaded not guilty in January, and his defense argued he should be released because he had a steady job and no criminal record. Spafford, who is married with two young daughters, lost three fingers in a homemade explosives accident in 2021, the judge noted. Spafford could face 10 years in prison on each charge and is scheduled to be sentenced in December.
CTV News
3 days ago
- CTV News
Grenades, mortars and rockets: What to do if you find military explosives
Police responded to two separate munitions discoveries in the Maritimes this week, prompting the public to ask: What do you do if you find, dangerous, potentially explosive items? 'There are absolutely things that members of the public should do, and absolutely things that members of the public should not do,' says Nick Monteiro, UXO Legacy Site's program manager for the Department of National Defence. Unexploded Explosive Ordnance, or UXO, is defined by the Department of Defence as 'military explosives that did not explode or function as intended.' Examples include bombs, grenades, mortars and rockets. Experts say if you suspect you find something ammunition-related, don't touch it, record the location and call 911 or local police. old ordinace An old, rusty UXO shell is pictured in muddy water. (Courtesy: Government of Canada) '911 will dispatch whoever they feel is necessary, whether it's police, ambulance, or fire,' explains Monteiro. 'They are the ones that make the determination as to whether they will contact the military. And if they do, EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) technicians are sent to the sites. They'll take control of the site, and they'll determine what has to be done.' The Government of Canada says all UXO must be considered dangerous. Disturbing or moving the item could make it explode, causing injury or death. In Kensington, P.E.I., on Monday, the municipal building, which includes the police department and town hall, was closed and evacuated as a precaution after a Second World War-era mortar shell and a canister containing rocket fuel were found inside. The Canadian Armed Forces responded and removed the two items. 'There was an 11-and-a-half-pound practice bomb, and a solid rocket motor,' says Monteiro. He says the practice bomb is the most common UXO found in Canada. On Tuesday, a live grenade was thrown onto a property on Pauline Crescent in Dartmouth, N.S. Halifax Regional Police evacuated nearby homes and closed access to the street, while an explosive disposal unit from Fleet Diving Unit Atlantic removed the grenade and detonated it that afternoon. The case is currently under investigation by HRP. No one was hurt in either case. More than 300 calls a year Monteiro says DND receives more than 300 EOD calls a year across the country and they are more common during spring cleaning and construction season. 'UXO do not necessarily become less dangerous with time,' says Monteiro. 'Sometimes they do. Sometimes they actually become more dangerous, and it takes an expert to make that determination.' If you're in doubt, Monteiro says there's no harm in calling police. 'For instance, people have thought parts of transmission from cars have been mines. We've had bits and pieces from lawnmowers that individuals thought were potentially dangerous. It's better to err on the side of caution.' The risk differs from place to place. DND holds outreach programs at schools in areas where there are UXO 'legacy sites' – primarily in western Canada. These sites were often used for military training. According to the federal government, the Legacy Sites Program 'manages UXO risks on UXO Legacy Sites across the country contributing to the health and safety of Canadians. 'The sole purpose of what we do is to protect Canadians from any kind of explosive risk,' says Monteiro. 'If you find anything, you don't touch it, make note of where it is, and call 911.' Souvenirs and collections Sometimes a UXO is a souvenir brought to Canada by veterans who served overseas. 'Things that grandpa brought home as souvenirs, put them in the basement or attic, that you might find,' says Gary Melville, a veteran and the executive director of the Army Museum Halifax Citadel. GAry Melville Veteran Gary Melville, the executive director of the Army Museum Halifax Citadel, is pictured at the museum holding an inert grenade. The Army Museum is home to more than 70,000 military artifacts. 'I've had people call and say, 'we have something to donate to the museum', and I always ask, 'what it is?'' says Melville. 'As soon as they say, 'I have a grenade', I go 'Stop. Okay. Don't touch it. Please call the police.'' Melville says those calls often come after a family member has passed, leaving behind souvenirs found in basements, attics and trunks. 'We don't know if it's live, or inert,' says Melville. 'I did not deactivate it, and it's not worth me losing my fingers just to make sure that I can get another grenade for display.' Museum entrance The entrance and sign for the Army Museum Halifax Citadel are pictured. (Amanda Debison, CTV Atlantic) Monteiro says some of those lost items would be demilitarized and rendered safe but the chain of custody can lead to misinformation. 'The problem is many of these items are very old and the understanding as to what was done with them has disappeared over time,' adds Monteiro. Both Melville and Monteiro say if someone comes into possession of a private UXO collection, it should be disposed of by trained professionals. 'If you don't know where it came from or who made it inert, it should not be in your home, in my opinion,' said Melville. 'You don't know what it's going to do, and it's your life or the life of your children, your grandchildren that stumble upon it twenty years from now. If you don't know that it's inert, don't keep it around.' The Government Canada has more details on its website how to identify UXO and what to do if you find one. A third explosive device was brought to Sussex RCMP on July 4, said Sgt. Kevin Gloade in an email to CTV. He said the Explosive Disposal Unit safely disposed of the object and evacuated the area as a safety measure. He said no charges were laid.
