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mfcorey1

(11,001 posts) Thu Dec 3, 2015, 04:32 PM Dec 2015

Fifth Graders Arrested For Planning Explosion at High School

Five fifth-grade students in New Jersey were arrested after police say they plotted to detonate an explosive device during an assembly this week at a nearby high school.

Authorities say 10- and 11-year-olds at Clifton Elementary School 11 intended to "cause damage," local news outlet Pix 11 reported.

"It wasn't a prank," Clifton police spokesman Robert Bracken told the station.

The children’s alleged scheme unraveled when a teacher uncovered written plans outlining an attack to take place at Clifton High School, police said. The high school canceled its assembly in response.

Authorities said the device they recovered from the students was filled with vinegar and cinnamon and didn't contain any actual explosives, WABC reported.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/fifth-graders-arrested-for-alleged-bomb-plot_56607059e4b079b2818d7431

8 replies

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Highlight:

Fifth Graders Arrested For Planning Explosion at High School (Original Post) mfcorey1 Dec 2015 OP

Good they stopped them. yeoman6987 Dec 2015 #1

With vinegar and cinnamon? daleanime Dec 2015 #2

Vinegar and baking soda would have been better, but to get a 1monster Dec 2015 #5

I made fireworks at home with my chemistry set and a few extras Warpy Dec 2015 #4

I remember gladium et scutum Dec 2015 #7

Right, that's about my time and my sources Warpy Dec 2015 #8

Holy moly! KamaAina Dec 2015 #3

Schools need better science teachers. n/t lumberjack_jeff Dec 2015 #6

yeoman6987

(14,449 posts)

1. Good they stopped them.

Reply to mfcorey1 (Original post)

Thu Dec 3, 2015, 04:41 PM

Dec 2015

Sheesh in 5th grade we only made prank calls. Now they try to destroy property and lives. What a mess.

daleanime

(17,796 posts)

2. With vinegar and cinnamon?

Reply to yeoman6987 (Reply #1)

Thu Dec 3, 2015, 04:46 PM

Dec 2015

I would think even a 5th grader would know better.

1monster

(11,012 posts)

5. Vinegar and baking soda would have been better, but to get a

Reply to daleanime (Reply #2)

Thu Dec 3, 2015, 07:07 PM

Dec 2015

really satisfying reaction, they should have gone for Mentos and Diet Coke.

I can't believe they arrested these kids over this. There are better ways to handle potentially misbehaving kids. Everything isn't a law enforcement problem.

Warpy

(111,332 posts)

4. I made fireworks at home with my chemistry set and a few extras

Reply to yeoman6987 (Reply #1)

Thu Dec 3, 2015, 05:19 PM

Dec 2015

Prank calls were beneath me at that age.

I came by it honestly, my mother blew a hole in the roof when she was about that age.

They're lucky these kids were dumb.

gladium et scutum

(808 posts)

7. I remember

Reply to Warpy (Reply #4)

Thu Dec 3, 2015, 08:59 PM

Dec 2015

I remember making all sorts of things with my Gilbert Chemistry set. Some of which would probably attract the attention of law enforcement today. Could go the drug store and buy Potassium Nitrate and sulfur in quantity and grind up charcoal briquettes for the carbon component of gun powder. Made the stuff by the pound. Blew up lots of model tanks and airplanes with it. Never had an inclination to blow up the school though. Did get into trouble in High School Chem, for trying to make nitroglycerin. This was in the late 50s and early 60s, a far different world than today.