3 arrested after bomb-making materials found in George Mason University dorm room
FAIRFAX, Va. - Three students have been arrested after a drug and explosives investigation on the campus of George Mason University.
Officials say there is no immediate threat and evidence has been taken into custody. The details of this incident are contained in a search warrant filed in Fairfax County court and obtained by FOX 5 News.
The court documents say campus police searched a campus dorm room at the university and found what is being described as materials used to manufacture fire bombs.
According to search warrants, officers from the George Mason University Police Department raided Room 105 at Jefferson Hall at around 8:45 p.m. Wednesday. Officers were responding to a report of flames shooting out of a window.
Court documents state when police confronted the residents in the room, they found a leafy green substance. When they returned with a search warrant, police discovered a tool box containing match books, shaved match heads, a mortar and pedestal, lighter fluid, hand sanitizer candles and a PVC pipe.
The bomb squad later advised campus police that the materials were being used to manufacture fire bombs or make explosive materials.
Students, some of whom live in Jefferson Hall say they disturbed by this, but are relieved the materials were discovered before someone got hurt.
"It's surprising to me that no one else on the floor knew about it, and if they did, they didn't say anything about it," said student Sydney Cono. "Explosive are very, very harmful, but at least the police caught it before something bad could have potentially happened."
According to a statement by interim George Mason University Police Chief Thomas Longo, two were arrested on drug and alcohol-related charges while the other suspect was charged with possession of bomb-making materials.
We are told that the suspects are students at the university, but George Mason University's Office of Strategic Communications has declined to identify the individuals.