Suspected white supremacist found dead with chemicals that been used in ISIS terror attacks

Authorities in Wisconsin burned down an apartment building because the late Benjamin Morrow’s unit contained chemicals known to be used in ISIS-style bombings that were too dangerous to move

Authorities in Wisconsin were forced to burn down an entire apartment building because a single unit contained chemicals known to be used in ISIS-style bombings that were too dangerous to move.

The chemicals were found at the same time that suspected white supremacist Benjamin Douglas Morrow, 28, was found dead, killed by an explosion that occurred while he was making homemade bombs with ingredients that included triacetone triperoxide, or TATP.

A total of 13 jars of TATP, which is also referred to as the ‘Mother of Satan’ and has been used in a number of ISIS terror attacks in Europe, were found in the apartment, State investigator Kevin Heimerl said.

Morrow died on March 5 in his Beaver Dam, Wisconsin apartment, with his body found buried in rubble in front of an electric stove, and guns, a pistol, a ballistics helmet and ‘white supremacist literature’ in his bedroom. 

 

A total of 13 jars of TATP, which is also referred to as the 'Mother of Satan' and has been used in a number of ISIS terror attacks in Europe, were found in the apartment, State investigator Kevin Heimerl said; The controlled burn from March 15 is shown here

A total of 13 jars of TATP, which is also referred to as the ‘Mother of Satan’ and has been used in a number of ISIS terror attacks in Europe, were found in the apartment, State investigator Kevin Heimerl said; The controlled burn from March 15 is shown here

Despite the many troubling things found in Morrow’s residence, where he had only lived for two months before his death, it was the TATP in the unit that required the entire structure to be burned to the ground, as there was simply no safe way to remove it from the premises.

It is  made with common household items and difficult to detect, but highly unstable and prone to detonate unexpectedly. 

Before officials blew up the apartment building and burned down the wreckage to eradicate any trace of the explosive, investigators searched Morrow’s heavily damaged apartment.

Before officials blew up the apartment building and burned down the wreckage to eradicate any trace of the explosive, investigators searched Morrow's heavily damaged apartment

Before officials blew up the apartment building and burned down the wreckage to eradicate any trace of the explosive, investigators searched Morrow’s heavily damaged apartment

‘Within his bedroom, literature has been found concerning white supremacy groups,’ Heimerl wrote in a warrant reported by WISN.

It is unclear whether Morrow identified as a white supremacist. The warrant does not provide specifics about the literature or groups, and officials declined to provide more information.

The finding prompted a search of Morrow’s electronic devices to see if he was acting in concert with anyone.

Also in Morrow’s apartment, investigators found three long guns, two handguns, more than 2,000 rounds of ammunition, a ballistic helmet and vest, and masks, the warrant said. 

'Within his bedroom, literature has been found concerning white supremacy groups,' an investigator said

‘Within his bedroom, literature has been found concerning white supremacy groups,’ an investigator said

The building and everything inside, including the volatile explosives, was destroyed within two hours, the Beaver Dam Fire Chief said. 

‘It felt like kind of a double-edged sword, bittersweet,’ he said, while noting the plan was executed flawlessly.

‘Having to do this operation in the first place was horrible.’ 

Temperatures for the blaze reached up to 1600 degrees Fahrenheit inside of what used to be building 109 at the Village Glen apartments in Beaver Dam. Morrow lived in unit 11.  

Morrow was born in was born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa and went to Pensacola Christian College in Florida, according to his obituary.

He graduated in 2013 with a degree in pre-pharmacy and minors in chemistry and math. 

From 2014 to last year, Morrow worked as a scientist at PPD Inc. in Madison, a research company specializing in drug development.

Most recently, he worked for Richelieu Foods in Beaver Dam, which makes private label frozen pizzas and salad dressing.

Co-workers there said that Morrow often came to work smelling like mothballs, which are composed of explosive material.  

It’s not known what Morrow was doing with such a high volume of explosives, or whether anyone else was involved with his plans for the chemicals.   

Temperatures for the blaze reached up to 1600 degrees Fahrenheit inside of what used to be building 109 at the Village Glen apartments in Beaver Dam; Morrow lived in unit 11, shown here

Temperatures for the blaze reached up to 1600 degrees Fahrenheit inside of what used to be building 109 at the Village Glen apartments in Beaver Dam; Morrow lived in unit 11, shown here

Investigators said they are not currently seeking other individuals in the matter but the investigation remains open to follow any leads.

Dodge County District Attorney Kurt Klomberg said no one has been referred to his office for prosecution.

Two days after the explosion, officials tried to destroy the remaining TATP with a controlled detonation.

After experts warned that traces of the chemical remained which may pose a hazard, the city took the unusual step of burning down the entire 16-unit apartment building in a controlled burn captured on video by Fox6 News.

Before the burn, FBI bomb techs retrieved some property in other units, including important papers, jewelry, money and other family heirlooms.

Klomberg, the district attorney, said that he stood by the decision to burn the building but that it was very difficult to see residents have ‘much of their lives burned up.’

‘It was one of the most heart-wrenching things that I have been involved in,’ he said. 

The controlled burn of the building was carried out by 100 firefighters on March 15. 

After experts warned that traces of the chemical remained which may pose a hazard, the city took the unusual step of burning down the entire 16-unit apartment building

After experts warned that traces of the chemical remained which may pose a hazard, the city took the unusual step of burning down the entire 16-unit apartment building



Read more at DailyMail.co.uk