5 Teens Arrested After Bottle Bombs Found

Five teenagers were arrested for allegedly concocting bottle bombs from swimming pool acid and trying to set them off in the 25000 block of Wiley Canyon Road in Newhall late New Year’s Eve.

Responding to complaints about 10:45 p.m., deputies disabled and confiscated one unexploded device, and found broken glass from perhaps four others that had either detonated or been thrown, authorities said.

Specialists from the Los Angeles County Fire Department Hazardous Materials Response Team neutralized the acid that had spread from the broken bottles.

Pool acid, which is mostly hydrochloric acid, is very caustic, said Capt. Martin Scott. “It’s going to burn your skin and your eyes, and for some people could be deadly if it got into the respiratory system. There are a lot of things out there that are a lot more deadly than this, but it’s a problem. These kids are just very lucky they didn’t hurt somebody.”

The juveniles, who range in age from 14 to 17 and live in the Newhall area, were charged with possession of a destructive device. They were being held at Sylmar Juvenile Hall.