Law enforcement in Berkeley, California has arrested a 16-year-old for allegedly trying to recruit a group of people to partake in a bombing and mass shooting at Berkely High School.

According to reports, the teenager's plan was well in motion upon his arrest because when authorities arrived at his house with a search warrant in tow, they found assault rifles, explosives, and knives along with electronic equipment that could be used to create even more weaponry. Following the discovery, the suspect turned himself in at a local police station where he was booked on suspicion of possessing destructive device materials and threatening to commit a crime that will result in death or great bodily injury.

In response to the arrest, the Berkely Police Department released a statement in order to reassure the townsfolk of its commitment to public safety.

"School safety remains a high priority for the Department. As part of that commitment, the Department has a School Resource Officer assigned to Berkeley High School who regularly liaises with school and safety personnel," the statement said. "In addition to the School Resource Officer, all officers have access to a range of training and equipment that provide them the protection, skills and ability to rapidly respond to in-progress violence."

In wake of the police search, it's clear that the suspect's plan wasn't just merely hearsay. It's a revelation that sent shockwaves throughout the community in the East Bay, especially amongst the parents of the children who attend Berkley High School. To that, the school's superintendent, Brent Stephens, shared his thoughts on the matter, while seeming to downplay the level of threat that the teenage suspect actually posed.

"As added precautions during this period, we alerted our administrative and security staff about this investigation and, as is our standard practice, maintained close contact with our BPD School Resource Officer on the Berkeley High School campus," Stephens said. "Throughout the investigation period, we were assured that this individual did not pose an immediate threat to the Berkeley High School community."

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Source: NBC Chicago