A bomb squad diffused a possible explosive in Richmond on Sunday evening, police said, and took in a suspect who they booked on charges of possessing an explosive device and making criminal threats.
Residents were evacuated at about 2 p.m. in and around the 5100 block of Mcbryde Avenue after police searched a home of a person suspected of building the explosive, according to police.
"As of 6:05 p.m., the device has been detonated and no other devices have been found inside the house," Richmond police Lt. Felix Tan said in an email. "It is undetermined if the detonated device was inert or active at this time."
He identified the suspect as 55-year-old William Celli.
Officers received a report Thursday of a person who expressed interest in harming Muslims and who may have an explosive at his home, according to police, which led to Sunday's arrest.
When detectives and a SWAT team served a search warrant to search the person's home they found a possible homemade explosive, according to police.
Officers said nobody was injured and residents were allowed back into the area and to their homes around 6 p.m., police said.
