New Jersey teen caught with explosives Lab in Basement, Police say
Authorities evacuated the area after finding volatile materials; the teen is under FBI surveillance as charges are being considered.
In New Jersey, an 18-year-old teenager who "offered" his expertise to help some students detonate bombs for a school project had an explosives lab in his basement, local police reported.
A person involved with the students reported the incident after the suspect's premises were searched. A neighbor also said she was scared when the explosions occurred. "I thought there was an earthquake or something," said Soujanya Gamini, the teenager's neighbor.
NJ teen built bomb lab to impress classmates, police say
A fellow student reported to police a student displaying bombs, and police searched a home on East Oak Avenue in Moorestown. Police found inside the home a basement laboratory stocked with extremely explosive materials to make explosives. Police cleared the neighborhood as a precaution due to the risk the compounds posed both inside and in the suspect's backyard.
Police Chief Patrick Reilly explained that this was not a normal home laboratory, but a big facility in fact, as confirmed by bomb experts. However, he stated that the teenager had no specific intent in employing his devices. His motive appeared to impress his technical skills and even volunteered to teach other students how to make devices, which set off alarm among school authorities and police authorities.
FBI monitors NJ teen after explosive lab discovery; school deemed safe
For precautionary purposes, some of the local schools were inspected, including Moorestown High School, where the child involved in the case was a student. Reilly indicated that, up to now, there are no active threats connected with the case but that the case remains under investigation under the supervision of the FBI. The case was treated seriously by federal and local authorities.
Authorities investigate the Moorestown home of the New Jersey teen suspected of building a basement explosives lab, after a classmate reported his attempts to teach others how to make deadly devices. Photo: St. Tammany Parish Sheriff's Office
The Burlington County District Attorney's Office is weighing what charges the suspect would be indicted on, including possession of destructive devices and endangerment of the community. The teen is not in custody but is under close surveillance by the FBI. Authorities are ongoing in trying to delve deeper into the case and ensure the school community becomes secure.
