Community Corner
West Bloomfield Man Due in Court on Federal Explosives Charges
Preliminary examination scheduled Wednesday afternoon for Alaa Manuel Qasawa, whose home and work were searched in September.
A West Bloomfield man facing explosives charges stemming from a federal investigation is due in court Wednesday.
Alaa Manuel Qasawa, 49, a sandwich shop franchisee whose family home and business in Lake Orion were raided in September, is accused of trying to receive, possess and store stolen explosives without a license or permit. His preliminary examination in U.S. District Court is scheduled for 1 p.m.
A federal affidavit said that in August, Qasawa asked about buying detonators and grenades from a company in Scranton, PA. The Federal Bureau of Investigations said they concluded Qasawa — who is not licensed to have explosives by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives or the Oakland County Sheriff's Office — was attempting to manufacture explosive devices.
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In a September interview with WJBK-TV at Qasawa's arraignment, his attorney Mitchell Ribitwer said that Qasawa is merely a "collector" of explosives, with "no evil intent."
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Find out what's happening in West Bloomfieldfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
- FBI Conducts Raid at West Bloomfield Home
- West Bloomfield Man Faces Federal Explosives Charges
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