16-year-old arrested; deliberate capturing with explosives at Berkeley High, police say

BERKELEY, Calif. - A 16-year-old boy was arrested after recruiting others to participate in a mass school capturing that could have included a bombing at Berkeley High School, police say. 

The teenager was arrested Monday, when he turned himself in to police, Berkeley Police Department said in a press launch. Monday was Memorial Day and there was no college that day. 

The boy was arrested on suspicion of possessing destructive device supplies and threatening to commit a criminal offense which will result in death or great bodily harm.

Police mentioned they received a tip on Saturday that the boy was recruiting others in plans of a capturing that included explosives. Following the tip, police obtained and executed a search warrant for a residence. 

Police didn't say if the teen was a pupil at Berkeley High School.

Upon executing the search warrant, police mentioned they found parts to explosives and assault rifles, a number of knives, and digital items that may very well be used to create additional weapons. 

At that time, a warrant was obtained for the teenager's arrest. 

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"College security remains a excessive precedence for the department," police stated in an announcement. 

Details on whom the teenager was attempting to recruit weren't disclosed. Police mentioned this case stays underneath investigation. 

Berkeley Unified Supt. Brent Stephens told the college's neighborhood that the district was in shut contact with police during this investigation. 

After police confiscated the teenager's weapon elements, the district relied on police experience to evaluate any potential ongoing threat to its schools. The district communicated with police on the coed's whereabouts. 

"As added precautions during this era, we alerted our administrative and security employees about this investigation and, as is our customary observe, maintained close contact with our BPD Faculty Resource Officer on the Berkeley High Faculty campus," Stephens wrote. "All through the investigation period, we were assured that this individual did not pose a direct threat to the Berkeley High School neighborhood."

The district is conducting their own investigation on this matter. 

The district might pursue disciplinary motion against the coed. 

In addition, a town hall meeting titled: 'How to Speak to Children About School Violence' offered by Alameda County Office of Schooling is scheduled for Wednesday at 6 p.m.