2 men face weapons of mass destruction charges after explosions in Bucks County, Pa.

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Tuesday, October 3, 2023
2 men face weapons of mass destruction charges after explosions in Bucks County, Pa.
2 men face weapons of mass destruction charges after explosions in Bucks County, Pa.

WARRINGTON, Pennsylvania (WPVI) -- Two men are in custody in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, accused of manufacturing homemade and dangerous explosives.

"It was more than a firework. It was just a loud explosion," said John DeVito. "Woke us right up."

For some folks who live near the Valley Square shopping center in Warrington, they were jolted awake around 3:30 a.m. Sunday.

"And then twice after that, within that next half hour, we did hear it two more times," said Marge Volpe.

While groggy neighbors were trying to figure out what the noise was, a police officer on patrol also heard the loud bang and called for backup.

As police got closer, they saw a white SUV leaving the scene.

"There's a plume of smoke as he's driving through it, and he could smell the gunpowder so he knew that. So that was our nexus to link into the car," said Warrington Township Police Chief Daniel Friel.

Police pulled the SUV over at Street and Easton roads where they say they saw more explosives inside the vehicle in plain view.

"One looked like the size of a softball and it was made of cardboard or paper. And the other looked like a soda bottle. They had wicks sticking out of them,"said Friel. "What was really concerning was one... almost looked like it was set to go off and it did not go off. So they put it back in the car, which is crazy."

The Philadelphia Bomb Squad was called in to assist.

Police arrested the two men in the van, identified Vadim Pokusov, 40, of Warminster and Vladimir Nosatchev, 47, of Philadelphia.

Vadim Pokusov and Vladimir Nosatchev

They're charged with possessing or manufacturing weapons of mass destruction, arson, risking catastrophe and more.

A small hole in the grass is left where police say one of the explosives went off. They're still trying to figure out a motive.

"They're in their 40s. They're middle-aged adults and they're out here playing with handmade explosive devices at 3:30 in the morning? In the suburbs?" said Friel.

Both suspects are locked up in the Bucks County Prison.

Investigators are still working on this and are sending information to federal partner agencies.

Anyone who heard or saw anything between 2 a.m. and 4 a.m. Sunday morning should call Warrington police.

The suspects are being held on $1 million cash bail.