Prosecutors: Man built two pipe bombs in his Lindenhurst home

LINDENHURST, Ill. -- A man had two pipe bombs inside his home in north suburban Lindenhurst and might have been trying to build more, prosecutors allege.

Michael Suopys, 28, was ordered held on a $1 million bail Sunday for a felony charge of possessing bombs containing an explosive substance, according to the Lake County State's Attorney's Office.

Someone tipped off authorities on Thursday that Suopys might be buying supplies online to build a weapon at his home in the 800 block of Jefferson Drive in Lindenhurst, prosecutors said.

Lindenhurst police and the FBI executed a search warrant at the home Friday and found two pipe bombs, an empty steel pipe, a PVC pipe containing a motor, lab equipment and two metal pipes containing cotton-like substance consistent with nitrocellulose - a highly flammable compound used in explosives, prosecutors said.

"We will never know for certain what potential tragedy was averted, but the evidence that has been recovered certainly indicates that this individual was planning something sinister," Lake County state's attorney Michael G. Nerheim said in a written statement.

Suopys remained in custody Sunday night. His next court date is June 16.