TRIPwire, 19 April 2018

On 16 April 2018, Pitt County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO) deputies, Grifton Police Department (GPD) officers, and the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) bomb squad found bomb-making materials (BMM) and four pipe bombs inside a residence in Grifton. A GPD spokesperson stated that law enforcement officials arrested a suspect on 15 April on domestic violence charges and subsequently, officials learned of possible pipe bombs in the home. During a multi-agency search, law enforcement located BMM and four improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in the home. One device was described as a plastic container that contained explosives, small metal pieces, and a fuse. A GPD spokesperson believed the IEDs did not have a specific target. The SBI bomb squad rendered safe the devices and removed the explosive materials. The suspect is facing charges stemming from domestic violence and manufacturing weapons of mass destruction. The investigation is ongoing.