Lynn Teen Charged In Series Of Explosions

LYNN (CBS) - A Lynn teenager was ordered held without bail Friday charged with setting off a series of explosions in and around the city.

WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Carl Stevens reports

18-year-old Michael Ranelli was near tears and pleaded with a judge not to send him to jail at his arraignment in Lynn District Court.

The judge ordered him held without bail pending a dangerousness hearing on Tuesday.

Prosecutor Susan Dolan said Ranelli made and detonated a total of seven explosive devices in several locations on the nights of February 15 and February 21.

"In sum there were four devices that were exploded in Lynn and three that were detonated outside the city of Lynn," Dolan told the court.

Police say they found empty toilet paper rolls, two butane lighters and two rocket motors in his mother's car.

"They contain low-grade explosives, which, when combined with chemicals, can combust and cause a bomb."

"In some of the instances, when these were detonated, objects were physically lifted off of people's mantles and walls and came down."

Dolan said two others were involved and the investigation is not over.

His father said Ranelli is sorry for what he did and that he thought he was just playing with some sort of fireworks.

Ranelli is in the top five in his class at Lynn Tech.  He has no criminal record.