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28-Year-Old Man Charged in Scheme to Make Weapons of Mass Destruction

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PHILADELPHIA (October 9, 2024) — The Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office announced on Wednesday that Evgenii Sadrislamov (DOB 10/12/96) was arrested and charged for his role in manufacturing numerous improvised explosive devices in a makeshift laboratory at his Mayfair residence.

Sadrislamov is charged with Arson (F1), Weapons of Mass Destruction (F2), Causing Catastrophe (F2), Possession of an Instrument of Crime (M1), and related offenses.

On the evening of October 4, 2024, the Philadelphia Fire Department and Philadelphia police responded to a report of a row home fire on the 7100 block of Montague Street. Once on scene, first responders noted smoke emanating from the defendant’s garage and the interior of the house. The defendant and his mother were brought outside. Nearby residents were told to evacuate as a precaution while a search of the house was conducted. During this search, authorities discovered materials that were being used to build incendiary devices.

The property was declared a HAZMAT scene, and agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the Department of Homeland Security arrived to assist in the investigation. Upon obtaining a search warrant, investigators recovered several improvised explosive devices as well as explosive powders from a bomb-making laboratory located in the basement and garage. Approximately 50 pounds of explosives were removed from Sadrislamov’s residence. Investigators believe that if this material had ignited, it would have leveled the entire block of homes.

“This defendant’s activities posed an extremely grave danger to the community,” said District Attorney Larry Krasner. “I’m grateful to the Philadelphia Police Department, Philadelphia Fire Department, the ATF, and others who conducted this investigation and averted a horrific tragedy. This case will be vigorously prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Hayley Mehr of the DAO’s Major Trials Unit, and this defendant will be held accountable for his recklessness.”

“The manufacturing, storage and handling of illegal explosives endangers the whole community,” said Eric DeGree, Special Agent in Charge with the ATF Philadelphia Field Division. “This case should serve as a warning to all others out there engaged in such activities of the dangers and criminal penalties. We take illegal explosive activities very seriously, and urge anyone with information to report it to your local police or ATF tip line at 888-ATF-TIPS. Doing so protects yourself and your community from this deadly threat.”

Sadrislamov remains in custody on approximately one million dollars bail as this investigation continues. His preliminary hearing is currently scheduled for October 22, 2024.

CONTACT:
Dustin Slaughter, [email protected]

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The Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office is the largest prosecutor’s office in Pennsylvania, and one of the largest in the nation. It serves the more than 1.5 million residents of the City and County of Philadelphia, employing 600 lawyers, detectives, and support staff. The District Attorney’s Office is responsible for the prosecution of approximately 40,000 criminal cases annually. Learn more about the DAO by visiting PhillyDA.org.

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