ATF: Waseca chemicals were dangerous

A federal law enforcement official says the chemicals found in a Waseca storage shed last month created a dangerous situation regardless of whether a teenager accused of making explosives there was ever going to carry out a plot to attack his school.

Scott Sweetow is the special agent in charge of the Minnesota field offices of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. He tells The Free Press of Mankato agents always react with concern when potassium perchlorate and some form of fine metal such as aluminum powder or iron oxide are found in the same place. He says the two ingredients are commonly used to make illegal fireworks or explosives.

The 17-year-old is charged in juvenile court but authorities are seeking to prosecute him as an adult.