Russian National in Philadelphia Charged with Manufacturing Weapons of Mass Destruction

A Russian national has been charged with manufacturing weapons of mass destruction in his Philadelphia home. Authorities identified the man as Evgenii Sadrislamov, a 27-year-old resident of the city. He is accused of possessing over 50 pounds of explosives, which officials stated could have caused significant destruction, with the potential to level an entire city block.

According to The Telegraph, the discovery was made after firefighters responded to reports of smoke coming from Sadrislamov’s garage last Friday evening. A man and a woman were rescued from the home, with no reported injuries at the scene.

James Kelly III, deputy commissioner of the Philadelphia police, confirmed that a lab for manufacturing explosives was found in the basement and garage. The materials discovered included components for incendiary devices.

Sadrislamov, already on probation following a 2020 incident involving commercial-grade fireworks, now faces charges including possession of weapons of mass destruction, arson, and reckless endangerment. Prosecutors described this event as an escalation of his prior offenses.

Eric DeGree, a special agent with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, stated that the situation posed a grave risk to the neighborhood. “This was a massive danger,” he remarked, adding that the explosives could have resulted in injury, death, and extensive damage.

Sadrislamov is currently in custody, and a preliminary hearing is scheduled for October 22.