YouTube Video Helps Foil Alleged Bomb Plot

A 16-year-old high school junior has been charged with making bombs in an alleged plan to target his classmates, a plot uncovered after a video was discovered on the Internet.

Frank Fechteler, a student at Newington High School, was arraigned Thursday on two counts of making bombs and ordered held on $500,000 bond, state prosecutors said. He was charged late Wednesday.

Police said they seized weapons from Fechteler's home Tuesday after receiving a tip from a Canton parent whose son had seen a disturbing video on YouTube.com that showed acquaintances firing weapons and igniting explosive devices, police said. It was unclear Thursday who had made the video.

Authorities also found a hit list with at least 20 names of potential victims, police said.

The alleged plot was foiled when another Canton teen who knows Fechteler sent a link to the video to a friend, police said.

That teenager shared the information with a parent, who contacted police. Canton officers notified their counterparts in Newington, and officers in both municipalities said their investigations were still open as of Thursday.

"We are extremely grateful that this parent took the important step," Newington Police Lt. William Darby said. "We believe this was a legitimate threat."

The investigation determined no other students were involved in the plot, police said.

Parents of students identified as targets of the plot have been notified.

"We knew he had his weapons and stuff," Cody Hixson, 16, a junior, told the Hartford Courant. He said he had occasionally hung out with Fechteler and visited his home after school. He added he didn't think Fechteler was capable of carrying out the sort of plot authorities describe. "Frank just wasn't a violent person," Hixson said, adding that Fechteler wasn't someone who could be bullied.

Fechteler's arraignment in New Britain Superior Court was secret because he is a juvenile. Prosecutor Kathleen McNamara and public defender Christopher Eddy, Fechteler's lawyer, declined to comment. Authorities said the teen continued to be held on bond.

Canton Deputy Police Chief Don Hull said police were reviewing the Canton teen's connection to Fechteler "to see if there's anything that we need to know about further."

He said they have found nothing to suggest that Canton's schools or any Canton residents were endangered.

"It does not appear to be of that nature, but we are just continuing to look into that and work with Newington and see if there's anything we can do that assists them," Hull said.

Newington police said Fechteler underwent a psychiatric evaluation Tuesday night, and that his family was fully cooperating with the investigation.

His parents, William and Soon Fechteler, declined comment after Thursday's court appearance.

Newington High School's principal has sent a letter to parents (.pdf) assuring them the school is safe. There were additional police at the school Thursday, and crisis counselors were made available to the students. There were also more frequent police patrols at Canton High School.