16-year-old arrested; planned taking pictures with explosives at Berkeley High, police say

BERKELEY, Calif. - A 16-year-old boy was arrested after recruiting others to take part in a mass school taking pictures that would have included a bombing at Berkeley High School, police say. 

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

The boy was arrested on suspicion of possessing damaging system materials and threatening to commit a criminal offense which will lead to dying or great bodily damage.

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

Police didn't say if the teenager was a student at Berkeley High Faculty.

Upon executing the search warrant, police said they found parts to explosives and assault rifles, several knives, and electronic objects that might be used to create extra weapons. 

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

SEE ALSO: Oklahoma hospital shooting: 3 individuals killed, suspect lifeless, Tulsa police say

"School security remains a excessive priority for the department," police mentioned in a statement. 

Particulars on whom the teenager was making an attempt to recruit were not disclosed. Police stated this case stays underneath investigation. 

Berkeley Unified Supt. Brent Stephens told the varsity's community that the district was in close contact with police during this investigation. 

After police confiscated the teenager's weapon components, the district relied on police expertise to assess any potential ongoing danger to its colleges. The district communicated with police on the coed's whereabouts. 

"As added precautions throughout this era, we alerted our administrative and security employees about this investigation and, as is our commonplace follow, maintained shut contact with our BPD College Resource Officer on the Berkeley Excessive School campus," Stephens wrote. "All through the investigation period, we have been assured that this individual didn't pose a right away risk to the Berkeley High Faculty group."

The district is conducting their very own investigation on this matter. 

The district may pursue disciplinary action against the student. 

In addition, a city hall meeting titled: 'Tips on how to Discuss to Children About School Violence' provided by Alameda County Workplace of Education is scheduled for Wednesday at 6 p.m.