Man released after agents find explosives in Schaumburg home

Federal authorities raided a Schaumburg home Thursday afternoon and confiscated materials used in the manufacture of explosive devices, officials from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives said Friday.

But by Friday afternoon, the 22-year-old being questioned was released, as authorities said they are comfortable he is not a "terrorist threat."

ATF agents, along with officers from Schaumburg Police Department and the Cook County sheriff's office, searched a home on the 600 block of Huntington Lane about 4:30 p.m. Thursday following reports that a person there was building crude explosive devices, ATF spokesman Tom Ahern said.

Upon entering the home with a search warrant, authorities discovered numerous items required to build pipe bombs, incendiary explosive devices, and other modified hand grenades, Ahern said.

Ahern said the unidentified man has not yet been arrested or charged, and his name will not be released unless charges are filed.

"There is no reason to believe he is affiliated with any gang or terrorist organization in any way," he said. "But he is an individual who has an interest in the construction of explosive devices, which is illegal. Those items were confiscated."

Cheri Schillo, who lives a few doors down from the home where explosive materials were found, said she knows the 22-year-old and his parents, and described them as quiet neighbors.

Schillo said the young man has a passion for making his own fireworks for the Fourth of July and firing them in the neighborhood.

"We've had problems with him in the past with big firecrackers," Schillo said. "The week before and week after (July 4) there would be nothing but firecrackers going off. They were rattling the windows in my house."

Despite that, Schillo said the 22-year-old is "really is a very nice kid.

"He's been helpful to people in the neighborhood," she added.

Ahern said the investigation is still ongoing but that no charges are expected at least through the weekend. No one has been taken into custody.

"The U.S. attorney is reviewing the case, and they would be the agency that would file charges," Ahern said. "But he did violate the law by being in possession of unregistered destructive devices."

Assistant U.S. Attorney Randall Samborn said Friday his office does not comment on investigations.

Anyone found guilty of possessing illegal explosive devices could be fined up to $10,000 and given up to 10 years in jail, Ahern said.

"We heard about this situation and went in due to concern for public safety," Ahern said. "He basically had the components to build an unregistered explosive device in a residential neighborhood, and we felt it was in the best public interest to go in and seize the materials."