A Florida man was arrested after police found enough explosive material to "blow up the block" when they searched his home. Officers received a tip that 37-year-old Jared E. Coburn was building bombs, and at his home they discovered mason jars filled with triacetone triperoxide, or TATP, an explosive compound using by terror groups like ISIS.
Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood said that the volatile explosive powder, which is used by terrorist organizations to make what they call the "Mother of Satan" bombs, had to be detonated underground at a nearby field.
Coburn told police that he was making fireworks, not bombs. Police charged him with two counts of manufacturing a destructive device and one count of making, possessing or transporting explosives. Officials said that he could face more charges as the investigation continues.
“Did he have more sinister plans? We don't know. But the bottom line is, if you take this as mundane, that he was a frustrated chemist and just playing chemist, he still had the potential to blow up the block," Chitwood explained.
Authorities praised the anonymous tipster, saying they helped save lives and could have stopped a potential tragedy.
“This just goes to show that these anonymous tips really help us out when it comes to protecting the general public,” Bomb Squad Lt. Lou Marino said. “If we wouldn’t have gotten that tip, who would know if we would’ve ever found out. Or it may have been after the fact, a very volatile situation would have taken place and somebody could’ve gotten hurt or, God forbid, killed. So we’re very grateful for that anonymous tip.”