Russian national arrested in Altoona for possessing suspected bomb

ALTOONA, Pa. — Police arrested a Russian national after finding a suspected bomb in his Altoona apartment late Friday, police said.

Vladislav Miftakhov, 19, was charged with possessing a weapon of mass destruction and related weapon and drug offenses, according to an Altoona police statement posted on the agency's Facebook page.

While investigating reports of a marijuana grow operation within the apartment, police said, officials found a suspected bomb and bomb making materials inside a suitcase in Miftakhov's apartment.

The bomb was safely taken apart by a member of the state police bomb squad, police said.

Miftakhov said he bought the materials online over the last several weeks, police said. Federal authorities were assisting in the investigation.

Miftakhov was taken to Blair County Central Booking for arraignment.

This article was written by Channel 11’s news exchange partners at TribLIVE.

WPXI