Summary

  • Adam Brunson charged for possessing explosive in support of Armenia
  • FBI investigating Brunson’s bomb-making skills and extremist activities
  • Potential sentence of up to 5 years in prison for Brunson

A passenger at

Boston Logan International Airport

was stopped in August 2023 after allegedly possessing an unusual and highly volatile explosive. Adam Brunson, 21, has been charged with a criminal complaint, falsifying, and concealing a material fact by trick, scheme, or device making. Brunson, who lives in Yerevan, attends the American University of Armenia.

According to documents referenced by the New Bedford Guide, Brunson’s bomb-making was linked to his beliefs that he wanted to take militant action against Azerbaijan, who, due to the Nagorno-Karabakh territory dispute, posed a threat to ethnic Armenians.

An aerial view of Boston Logan International Airport.

Brunson came to the attention of law officials in January 2023 when an explosion in his room at the University of Chicago caused local law enforcement to discover that he was constructing a large black powdered device. When it set off, it burned his room and caused an evacuation of his dormitory at the state university. When questioned at the time, Brunson noted that he was trying to imitate a prank he had found on the internet.

Further investigation undertaken into Brunsons actions

Subsequent investigations have identified that Brunson looked to engage in revolutionary direct action and terrorism to support Armenia, and it has also been alleged that Brunson was in the process of making videos to teach others how to manufacture their own explosive devices and door rigs. Internet searches on Brunson’s devices indicated he planned to act against federal US organizations.

Brunson was departing Boston in August 2023, destined for Armenia, when his bags set off an explosive alarm when passing through security. Initially, he told Customs and Border Protection that he had no idea what could have caused the traces to be found on his bag. A detailed recipe for making that explosive was found in three locations in his bedroom during a subsequent search. Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy noted:

“It is alleged that Mr. Brunson crossed the line between political expression and mobilization, by taking affirmative steps to carry out unlawful acts. While radical political views may be offensive, they are constitutionally protected. However, experimenting with extremely dangerous explosives in support of those views and then engaging in false statements about your conduct is crossing the line. We will investigate and prosecute anyone who crosses that line in order to keep our communities safe.”

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Photo: David Tran Photo | Shutterstock

The case has involved the

FBI

, and Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division, Jodi Cohen, reiterated:

“What Arum Brunson is accused of is alarming. We believe he engaged in a calculated scheme to conceal his efforts to develop bomb-making skills and construct an explosive device in support of his violent extremist activity. This case highlights how FBI Boston’s Joint Terrorism Task Force takes its mission to thwart political violence, wherever it may occur, seriously.”

Brunson, who remains innocent until proven guilty in a court of law, could be facing a sentence of up to five years in prison for each carge, with three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000.

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