FBI arrests Kansas City man with pipe bomb

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The FBI called a man found with a pipe bomb in his home a "potential terrorist" on Wednesday, as he was charged in federal court with possessing an unregistered destructive device.

The FBI identified the suspect as Akfa H. Fard, 52, of Kansas City, Mo. FBI agent Debby Stafford said Fard was born in Philadelphia and was known as Edward Burnett before he changed his name about 30 years ago.

Stafford said there is no evidence linking Fard to any terrorist organization, or to individual terrorists. Fard was called a "potential terrorist" because anyone possessing bomb-making materials would pose a threat to others, Stafford said.

"He appears to be a lone-ranger type," she said, not involved "in an international or domestic-type group."

Agents are still investigating Fard's motive for allegedly making the bombs.

Fard was arrested Tuesday at the hotel where he works after police found a pipe bomb at his home and what appeared to be another at the hotel.

Neighbors living near his home on Kansas City's east side were evacuated for more than five hours while members of the Kansas City bomb squad disabled a bomb. No one was hurt.

Kansas City police were contacted Tuesday morning by a resident in the suspect's home and told there appeared to be bomb-making materials and papers related to bomb-making there, authorities said.

Police investigated and reportedly found wire and two pipes, one apparently containing gun powder, Lanza said.

On Tuesday afternoon the investigation led authorities to the Holiday Inn in downtown Kansas City, where they found what appeared to be a pipe bomb in a locker room. The area was nearly surrounded by concrete.

The building was not evacuated because officials did not believe the bomb posed a danger to guests.