Feds Seeking Moorestown Teen Who Caused Explosion: Police

MOORESTOWN, NJ — Federal authorities are searching for a Moorestown teen who blew up homemade explosives while helping friends with a school science project, authorities said Monday afternoon.

Police were alerted Saturday that an underage resident exploded the materials while visiting a friend Saturday on Moorestown's Cove Road.

Authorities confirmed the presence of an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) on the premises and linked them to a boy who lives on the 400 block of East Oak Avenue.

The teen created the explosives, officials said.

He is expected to be charged with causing or risking widespread injury or damage and having a prohibited weapon or device, police said Monday afternoon.

The suspect was not in custody as of 1:30 p.m. Monday, when Moorestown Police Director Patrick Reilly held a news conference.

Federal authorities are "tracking him now," but there is no threat to the public, Reilly said.

The suspect brought the explosive materials to a Cove Road home to help his friends with a science project, Reilly said. He was not targeting anybody in an attack.

The boy left the materials at the Cove Road property, police said.

Bomb squads confirmed the presence of an IED on Cove Road and detonated the material at a nearby Public Works yard.

Bomb technicians then executed a search warrant at the suspect's East Oak Avenue home, where they found additional explosive materials, authorities said. Nearby neighbors were evacuated from their homes while officials detonated the explosives at the scene.

Federal officials collected samples of the material for lab testing.

Moorestown police have led the investigation, while the Burlington County Prosecutor's Office has been reviewing the information to determine charges.

"The FBI Task Force, they are just kind of monitoring and waiting for the lab results," Reilly said. "If it looks like something that is significant, they may take over the investigation. But as of right now, it's our investigation with the prosecutor's office."

The suspect did not create the materials with plans to attack anyone, officials said.

The Burlington County Sheriff's Department searched three Moorestown schools for any explosive materials, but none were found.

The searches — conducted at Moorestown High School, William Allen Middle School and Moorestown Upper Elementary School — were conducted at the superintendent's request, Reilly said. But it's unclear why each of the schools was searched.

No other identified threats or locations are under investigation, officials said Monday.

Anyone with information can contact Moorestown detectives at 856-234-8300.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.