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On 28 February 2024, Stanislaus County Sheriff's Office deputies arrested four suspects after discovering bomb-making material (BMM), 50 firearms, ammunition, gun silencers, and drugs while searching two locations in Stockton and Turlock related to a motorcycle gang. The raids were part of a months-long investigation of multiple gangs and were led by the Stanislaus Special Investigations Unit.
On 21 February 2024, Folsom Police Department officers discovered explosive materials, drugs, drug paraphernalia, firearms, and cash while searching a residence on the 9100 block of Golden Gate Avenue in Orangevale. The Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office Explosive Ordnance Disposal team was called to the site and removed all explosives from the residence. No additional details about the explosive material were released. A 53-year-old man was arrested and charged with unlawful creation, transportation, and possession of an explosive, among other felony charges.
On 26 February 2024, at approximately 0350 hours local time, Pima County Sheriff's Department officers responded to a residence on E. Benson Highway in Tucson for a structural fire. Rural Metro Fire crews quickly extinguished the blaze. According to detectives, a 53-year-old man allegedly threw an improvised incendiary device (IID) into the home while the residents were inside, initiating the blaze. No further device details were provided, and no other injuries were reported. The suspect was arrested on charges of attempted homicide and arson. The investigation is ongoing.
On 15 February 2024, the Hawaii Department of Law Enforcement’s Illegal Fireworks Task Force seized a shipping container containing approximately 24 tons of illegal pyrotechnics during a routine investigation of goods entering Honolulu Harbor. The Department of Law Enforcement described the seized fireworks as “1.3 G fireworks,” also known as display fireworks. The investigation is ongoing.
On 12 February 2024, Kauai Police Department (KPD) officers responded to a Kīlauea residence for reports of an unattended death, where they discovered the body of a deceased 37-year-old man bearing injuries “consistent with an explosive event.” KPD released a statement following the incident, reminding the public of the dangers of homemade explosives. An autopsy confirmed the death was not the result of foul play but did not provide further details.
On 20 February 2024, at approximately 1315 hours local time, Tustin Police Department officers, Orange County Bomb Squad technicians, Orange County Fire Authority officers, and Orange County Sheriff’s Department deputies responded to a shopping center on the 2000 block of Edinger Avenue for a reported explosion. According to authorities, an individual detonated an IED described as an improvised pyrotechnic outside the shopping center. A 30-year-old man was arrested and cited for three misdemeanor health and safety code violations.
On 30 January 2024, at approximately 0400 hours local time, two unidentified male suspects approached a business on N. Blackstone Avenue near the intersection with E. Shields Avenue in Fresno. One suspect threw an improvised incendiary device (IID), described as a Molotov cocktail, over the fence toward the business, where it smashed on the ground between a vehicle and the building. The resulting fire destroyed the vehicle and damaged the building before being extinguished by responding firefighters. An investigation is ongoing.
TRIPwire, 15 May 2023
On 12 May 2023, at approximately 1300 hours local time, Redlands Police Department officers responded after a pyrotechnic device functioned in Citrus Valley High School in Redlands. No further device details have been released. The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department Bomb and Arson Unit and Redlands Fire Department responded to assist. No injuries or damage was reported. Two students were arrested and charged with suspicion of maliciously or recklessly possessing an explosive on a school campus. The investigation is ongoing.
TRIPwire, 15 May 2023
TRIPwire, 11 May 2023
On 6 May 2023, U.S. Customs and Border Protection intercepted an IED bound for the United States at an Arizona port of entry during a secondary vehicle inspection. The IED was described as a candy container with electrical tape with blue and red wires exposed at the end of the container. No further device details have been released. The Arizona Department of Public Safety responded to assist and removed the device. The investigation is ongoing.