Roommate- Russian Teen Set Off 'Mini Bombs' in PA; Vladislav Miftakhov Arrested
I Was Going to 'Blow Things Up,' Says Teen; Freshman Student Changes Story Soon Afterwards
The roommate of teen Vladislav Miftakhov said the Russian student set off "mini bombs" before he was arrested Friday for drug and weapons charges, according to reports. The 19-year-old Penn State student had been experimenting with explosive devices and growing marijuana when authorities caught up with him, but he and his roommate deny that he had terroristic intentions.
Miftakhov's roommate, Andrew Leff, called him a "crazy kid" who set off the three devices recently, leaving small craters in the ground. Miftakhov, who is originally from Moscow, Russia but lived in California before becoming a freshman at Penn State, also showed him a bomb in an aerosol can.
"I said, 'Dude, you've got to get rid of that,'" Leff recounted to the Altoona Mirror Saturday. "[But] apparently he didn't. … [Miftakhov was a] crazy kid [and did] impulsive things."
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"He's was off the wall," Leff added. "It's not surprising to me at all [to learn about the arrest]."
Miftakhov was arrested Friday evening after authorities showed up to his Juniata apartment. Initially, they came because of a marijuana growing operation taking place- the Russian allegedly had five plants under a lamp- but found bomb parts in a suitcase. They also found chemicals like potassium parchorate, potassium nitrate and atomized magnesium mesh, according to affidavit.
When a police officer asked what he planned on doing with the materials, he said he would "blow things up." A bomb squad deactivated the devices soon afterwards.
Miftakhov was arrested and brought to the police station, where he said he wanted to set off the bombs in a field away from people. He then changed his story, saying he didn't intend on exploding the devices he had, according to the Associated Press.
The Russian student is now in Blair County Prison in lieu of $500,000 cash bail. His first hearing is set for Feb. 5.
