[Updated] Small Homemade Bomb Explodes at Cheshire High School

Updated at 2:20 p.m. on Nov. 21

Cheshire school officials will look at reinforcing policies on access to school buildings after Friday’s explosion of a homemade chemical bomb at Cheshire High School.

Superintendent of Schools Greg Florio said exterior doors to school buildings are supposed to be locked at all times and there should only be one way in and out after hours.

“With all the activities going on after school there’s going to be multiple areas of the school being used and it’s not always easy to monitor them,” Florio said. “We certainly will look at what occurred and determine whether or not we need to reinforce the policies that we have in place.”

Cheshire Police Capt. Jay Markella said Monday police were following up on leads. He would not say whether suspects have been identified.

"I don't think the intent was to blow up the school or target a specific person," Markella said." I think someone was using poor judgment and didn't realize the seriousness of their actions."

The incident occurred Friday evening during a practice of the girls’ volleyball team. The head coach and assistant coach who complained of headaches and throat irritation were treated and released at Midstate Hospital.

“I saw them both on Saturday and they were fine,” said
Florio.

Florio said there are video cameras throughout the high school, including near where the incident happened. He said school officials would review the footage to see if it provides any clues.

Florio said if the suspects are found to be Cheshire students, they would face discipline in addition to any criminal charges.

Employees from the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection cleaned and neutralized the area Friday night and deemed it safe, according to school officials. School maintenance staff also did its own cleaning of the gym area. There was no damage to the school.

School officials posted a chronology of the incident on the district website and on Powerschool, an online communication system for parents. They are asking anyone with information to report what they know to the
Cheshire Police Department at (203) 271-5500.

The original report follows:

A homemade bomb exploded in Cheshire High School tonight near where the girls volleyball team was practicing.

While no injuries were initially reported, two individiduals of an unknown age were transported to an area hospital for throat irritation and headaches, according to Cheshire Police Lt. Chris Cote.

Those injuries are believed to be related to the chemicals used in the homemade bomb that went off just before 5:37 p.m. The bomb was comprised of aluminum and toilet bowl cleaner in a soda bottle, Cote said. When combined in a closed container, those chemicals cause a reaction that releases enough pressure to result in an explosion.

Cheshire Police were alerted to the explosion when an individual flagged down a sergeant on routine patrol at the high school. The officer called the Cheshire Fire Department and for police backup. There was no fire involved.

Two individuals who were in the area when the explosion went off complained of throat irritation and a headache and were transported to an area hospital, Cote said.

Cote said he had not received any reports or calls of concerned parents flocking to the school. An officer on scene coordinated with coaches so parents were notified of what had happened, he said.

Right now, at about 9 p.m., police were wrapping up their investigation at the scene. "There's no information on suspects at this time," Cote said.

“There are cameras in the school,” he noted.