Federal bomb technicians spent part of this week blowing up small, improvised explosive devices in tightly controlled tests tied to pretrial evidence work in a Detroit federal terrorism case. Local footage shows the devices, cobbled together from household items, being carefully set up and then destroyed as part of the prosecution of Aws Mohammed Naser.
A video published today by The Detroit News captures FBI explosives technicians preparing, detonating, and documenting a series of small blast tests. According to the outlet, officials told investigators the test devices were similar to materials seized from Naser’s Westland home in 2017. Agents recorded the blasts as lawyers continue to sort through discovery and possible demonstrative evidence ahead of upcoming hearings.
Background on the Defendant
Aws Mohammed Naser, 37, was convicted in June 2025 of attempting to provide material support to ISIS and of possessing a destructive device, according to a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Prosecutors say an October 2017 search of his Westland residence turned up bomb-making materials and what they described as a “readily assembleable destructive device,” evidence that became a central pillar of the case. The investigation was led by the FBI Detroit Joint Terrorism Task Force, according to the same release.
Legal Implications and Evidence Handling
Controlled detonations like these are one way bomb technicians recreate how devices behave for forensic analysis and to prepare expert testimony. They can also become legal flashpoints, raising questions about the chain of custody and how demonstrative materials are created and presented to a jury. Naser’s defense team has previously filed pretrial motions challenging parts of the government’s case, and those filings remain on the public docket. Court disputes summarized on Casemine outline a series of pretrial battles that could determine whether, and in what form, the new test footage appears in court.
Next Steps in Court
Prosecutors have not publicly said whether they will seek to introduce the blast-test footage at upcoming hearings, and a judge will ultimately decide its fate under the Federal Rules of Evidence. The federal docket in Detroit still lists unresolved pretrial matters, and attorneys on both sides are expected to keep arguing over discovery and demonstrative exhibits in the weeks ahead. Local coverage of Naser’s original conviction has noted that the case remains a focus for federal counterterrorism officials in Michigan; see a prior Hoodline write-up on the 2025 verdict for additional context: Michigan man convicted in 2025.
