What started as a small disturbance turned out to be a huge story in Nassau County, New York. An antisemitic incident at a local high school led authorities to uncover a far more dangerous threat, explosive materials inside a residential home.

The investigation began when a swastika was discovered in a bathroom at Syosset High School, prompting police to identify a 15 year old student as the suspect and open an investigation.

When officers went to the teen’s home in Syosset, the situation escalated dramatically. Inside the property, police discovered chemicals that had already been combined to create explosive materials, including highly volatile substances such as nitroglycerin, an extremely unstable and dangerous chemical.

The area was immediately shut down, and police forces deployed a large scale emergency response, including the bomb squad, hazmat teams, and emergency services. Homes nearby were evacuated as a precaution, and parts of the neighborhood were closed off for hours. Due to the extreme danger of transporting the materials, officials carried out a controlled detonation on site, with locals reporting a loud blast when chemicals were destroyed.

The teen’s father, Francisco Sanles, purchased many of the chemical components and took his son to stores to buy them. While the teen claimed the materials were intended for building rockets, it was clear that they had been assembled in a way consistent with explosive devices. Both father and son were arrested and now face serious charges, including criminal possession of a weapon, reckless endangerment, and other related offenses. The teen is also facing charges tied to the antisemitic graffiti that initially triggered the whole story.