Explosives Found in Youth’s Home

NORTHRIDGE — Police evacuated several houses Thursday after finding explosives and bomb-making components at the home of a 17-year-old boy who threatened to kill his family, authorities said.

The discovery followed the arrest of the youth, who allegedly struck his mother after she refused to give him money to spend with friends, police said. The mother, who was in a wheelchair, summoned police, who arrived to find the boy carrying a loaded rifle and a knife.

“He was very distraught. Officers did a terrific job calming him down,” said Det. Tom Broad. “They got him to put the rifle down without hurting themselves or hurting him,” he said.

According to neighbors, the boy lives with his father, sister and mother, who suffered a stroke several years ago.

Police evacuated several homes after they found crude explosives in the boy’s bedroom.

“They were not sophisticated. He was not building an atomic bomb,” Broad said.

Police booked the boy on suspicion of making terrorist threats, and he was being held at Sylmar Juvenile Hall.

The parents “were not really aware of his deep involvement in the possession of the [explosive] devices,” Broad said. “They knew he had an interest in guns.”

Police said there was no evidence that the boy was planning to use the weapons in a heavily populated place like a school.