After a homemade bomb he was handling exploded in his garage, a member of a Michigan motorcycle gang who was already on a federal blacklist is in critical condition.
After the Saturday explosion in his Warren home, Michael Liburdi, 38, lost a hand and was burned over 55 percent of his body, according to FOX.
Warren Police Commissioner William Dwyer said authorities recovered more than a dozen handguns and rifles, as well as AR-style magazines and 4,000 rounds of ammunition.
Local police and an unidentified federal law enforcement organization were looking into Liburdi’s alleged involvement with illegal weaponry.
‘I don’t want to speculate and I don’t want to put any information out as far as our investigation,’ Dwyer said during a press conference on Monday, ‘other than to say that I think by the appearance of what was seized, there was obviously some criminal intent.’
Liburdi was saved by an officer who applied a tourniquet to his arm, according to Dwyer, and will spend months in the hospital if he survives his injuries.
Around 3 p.m. on Saturday, Liburdi, who was under investigation for producing illicit weapons, allegedly sparked the explosion.
At the moment of the explosion, he was the only one inside the house.
The incident at 20754 Gentner Street was responded to the Warren Police, the Warren Fire Department, and the Michigan State Police explosives squad.
According to authorities, the suspect has an extensive criminal background that includes weapons charges and explosives handling.
According to the Detroit Metro Times, he is also a member of an outlaw motorcycle gang.
Liburdi bought the two-story building in 2019, according to the Detroit Free Press, and it might be demolished if it’s too damaged.
The investigation into Liburdi began several weeks ago when law enforcement received a tip that he was building explosives, according to the site.
‘A police officer put a tourniquet on his arm that probably prevented him from bleeding out,’ Dwyer said. ‘The officer probably saved his life.’
Luckily, the explosion did not expand to nearby houses and nobody else was injured.
‘It’s just incredible that this explosion started in the garage and spread,’ Dwyer said.
‘It’s fortunate that there was no damage to other homes or that any other people were seriously injured or killed.’