Warrington Police Department arrested two men early Sunday morning in connection with explosions that awakened residents.
At approximately 3:30 a.m. Sunday, Warrington Police were notified of possible fireworks in the area of Street Road and Neshaminy Avenue. Over the the next 20 minutes police heard multiple explosions that were too loud to be fireworks, according to Warrington Police Chief Daniel J. Friel.
Patrol officers located a white SUV at approximately 3:50 a.m., near Valley Square Shopping Center, leaving the scene of a recently detonated explosive.
Officers stopped the SUV, detained the two men inside and observed what appeared to be multiple illegally created improvised explosive devices. One device appeared to be partially burnt and charred with a wick, police said.
Warrington officers called the Philadelphia Police Department Bomb Disposal Unit, which arrived and secured all of the dangerous devices; the unit continues to assist with this investigation. Warrington Corporal John Blanchard and Explosives Detection K9 Jolie assisted, conducting an explosives sweep and finding the post-detonation location yielding additional evidence, police said.
The two men from the SUV were identified by police as Vadim Pokusov, 40, of Warminster, and Vladimir Nosatchev, 47, of Philadelphia, They were charged with weapons of mass destruction crimes, felony arson, possession of explosive or incendiary materials or devices, risking catastrophe, possession of instruments of crime and criminal conspiracy. They were remanded to Bucks County Prison on $1,000,000 cash bail.
Asked whether the explosions in Warrington might be connected to reports of an explosion heard in Northampton at around 10:30 p.m. Sept. 16, Friel said, “We’re just not sure at this point, but we’re investigating and looking into it.”
The Warrington Township Police Department is asking anyone that may have heard or witnessed the explosions between 2 and 4 a.m. Sunday to contact the department by submitting a tip on Crimewatch or via email at wpdinfo@Warringtonpd.org.
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