ICYMI: Washington Man Sentenced to 5 Years for Twisted Bombing Attempt at Apartment
A Washington man who built deadly homemade bombs to get revenge on a robbery suspect faces five years in prison. 🌐 #News #SpokaneWA #Washington #Crime
SPOKANE, WA – A Washington man has been sentenced to five years in prison after setting off a homemade bomb at an apartment complex in Spokane. The man, Andrew Anardi, 33, targeted the complex in an attempt to get revenge on someone he believed had robbed him while he was incarcerated.
How a Personal Grudge Led to Dangerous Acts
The crime began when Anardi was robbed while in prison. Believing that a resident of the apartment complex was responsible, Anardi took matters into his own hands. He built two bombs using model rocket engines and an aerial mortar round, wrapping them with pennies and metal wire to act as shrapnel. Anardi’s intention, according to investigators, was to “scare” the person he thought had committed the robbery.
On September 11, 2021, Anardi rode his bike to the apartment complex. He threw one bomb over a fence, but it didn’t detonate. He then lit the second bomb and rolled it to the door of an apartment, where it exploded.
Explosion and Investigation
A nearby resident heard the loud bang and reported the incident. The Washington State Patrol Bomb Squad responded and safely neutralized the unexploded bomb. Investigators found shrapnel from the blast scattered as far as 130 feet away, including a coin and a piece of metal wire lodged in a nearby door.
The blast was serious. As ATF Seattle Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Blais pointed out, “Shrapnel from an explosion knows no difference between an intended target and an unintentional bystander, making this attempted attack that much more dangerous to the community.”
Sentenced for Reckless Endangerment
Anardi was sentenced to 60 months in federal prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release. U.S. Attorney Vanessa Waldref stated, “Mr. Anardi built two deadly bombs that included homemade shrapnel and attempted to detonate them in an apartment complex full of people. Thankfully, no one was hurt by Mr. Anardi’s reckless and dangerous behavior.”
Anardi’s actions could have led to serious injury or worse, but the swift response from law enforcement helped prevent a potentially devastating situation.
RELATED TOPICS: Crime | Washington
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