Gainesville teen charged with attempting to make explosive devices

A 15-year-old student at Buchholz High School in Gainesville was arrested on Tuesday after investigators found chemicals in his bedroom that he said were used to make a powerful explosive.

Alachua County sheriff's deputies said the teen was charged with making or attempting to make a destructive device. Authorities are considering additional charges as the probe continues.

The investigation began Friday when deputies and FBI agents learned the student had been holding online conversations with members and supporters of the Islamic State group. During those chats, the teen asked for help building drones and explosives to attack people at an unspecified location.

Officers spoke with the student's parents, who gave consent to search the boy's phone. Investigators found files with instructions for creating explosive devices, lists of chemical compounds, and ISIS propaganda. Based on that digital evidence, detectives obtained consent to search the home on Monday.

In the student's bedroom, officers located two jars. The 15-year-old told investigators the jars held chemicals for triacetone triperoxide, commonly known as TATP. The Alachua County Bomb Squad unit responded to the residence to secure the materials before detectives completed their search of the property.

Family members spoke to reporters off camera and said they still had questions about the investigation. They declined to provide further comment.