SMITHFIELD -- A man described as the leader of a radical Ku Klux Klan group was arrested Friday on federal firearms violations as authorities investigated a possible plot to blow up Johnston County offices and kill the sheriff.
Local and federal authorities found at least two bombs, "an arsenal of numerous weapons" and bomb-making materials at two homes, including that of Charles Robert Barefoot Jr., Sheriff Steve Bizzell said.
Authorities searched Friday for more bombs "that we have reason to believe have been assembled," he said.
Barefoot, 39, of Benson was arrested Friday as he drove to work with his son and two co-workers, Bizzell said. Three people including Barefoot's son were held for questioning.
Daniel Leigh Barefoot, 18, was charged later Friday with burning an unoccupied building and burning personal property. Bizzell said Daniel Barefoot was accused of burning a Johnston County school bus early on Jan. 10 and a hay barn outside Benson.
He was held on $150,000 bond. Bizzell said other arrests were pending.
"This has been a good day for the citizens in the Meadow community of Johnston County," Bizzell said. "We have put two individuals behind bars that threatened the safety of everyone living and visiting our county."
Barefoot was expected to appear before a federal magistrate in Wilmington later Friday, said Gloria Dupree, spokeswoman for the U.S. Attorney's Office in Raleigh. A call to the magistrate's office was not answered late Friday afternoon, and the outcome of his hearing was not available.
There was evidence of a connection between the Klan and the plot, Bizzell said; a Klan robe was among the items seized at Barefoot's home.
Among the weapons seized were handguns, rifles, an Uzi and a weapon with a 100-round clip, the sheriff said. Among the bomb-making materials seized were ether, detonating cord and fuses, he said.
Additional security measures were taken at the Johnston County Courthouse, jail and sheriff's office and for the sheriff after sources revealed the threat, Bizzell said.
"Sources have revealed that Junior Barefoot was meeting with members of his group or organization, and there were threats that were communicated in an anti-government way," Bizzell said. "The content of the communication was the possibility of blowing up the courthouse, specifically, the sheriff's office and the jail, and more specifically, the sheriff himself."
An investigation with ATF and FBI agents actively began about two weeks ago, Bizzell said.
In September, the town of Benson refused to allow a group called the Church of the National Knights to have a float in a parade for the 52nd annual Mule Days celebration. Town officials said they suspected suspect the organization was associated with the Klan.
Charles Barefoot was scheduled to appear in court Monday, July 22 for an offense against his wife, Sharon Renee Barefoot on March 15. A Johnston County sheriff's deputy told NBC 17 the charge was assault with a deadly weapon.
Sharon Barefoot obtained a restraining order against her husband on March 26.
http://www.nbc17.com/News/1567756/detail.html
I just saw the story on the news. The two bombs shown where blue spoon grenades (inert) and the guns apeared to be bolt actions and shotguns. The UZI had a 16 inch barrel so my guess is it is a semi. As for the "Bomb making Material" they showed 3 bottles of reloading powder.