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Teen Charged In Alleged Newington H.S. Plot

Police Say Plot Involved Manufacturing Bombs, Guns

POSTED: 11:10 am EST February 15, 2007
UPDATED: 7:05 pm EST February 15, 2007

A 16-year-old Newington High School student accused in a plot to attack his classmates has been charged with manufacturing bombs, police said.

State prosecutors said the Frank Fechteler was charged late Wednesday with two counts of making bombs and ordered held on $500,000 bond.

Newington police said they received a tip from a parent in Canton who discovered videos posted on YouTube.com, a video sharing Web site, that a student was planning an attack at the school in the next few months.

Newington police, along with state police officials, searched the Fechteler's home and they said they confiscated several weapons, materials to make at least two bombs, detailed notes and a list of more than 20 students.

Channel 3 Eyewitness News reporter Susan Raff reported that Fechteler's was ordered to undergo a psychiatric evaluation Thursday when he appeared at New Britain Superior Court. The judge also ordered that the student not return to class and not to have any contact with a number of other students.

"We are extremely grateful that this parent took the important step," Newington Police Lt. William Darby said. "We believe this was a legitimate threat."

"I want to make sure that people know that it is absolutely safe to send your kids to the high school," Newington High School Principal William Collins said on Wednesday. "We are going to have an increase of police presence in the next couple days (as a precaution)."

Police interviewed the students and learned that Fechteler, a junior, planned to carry out the assault in school. The investigation determined no other students were involved in the plot.

Newington police said they met on Tuesday morning with several parents of students who were identified as potential targets in the alleged plot. The students were identified as potential targets in statements made by the 16-year-old, which was also indicated in documents police seized from the teen's home.

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Be sure to stay with WFSB.com and Channel 3 Eyewitness News for the latest news updates.


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