KELSO, Wash. ( KPTV /Gray News) - Residents in a Washington state community are thanking authorities for stopping a major tragedy from happening at an area mall.

The FBI said it stopped a planned explosive attack and mass shooting at the Three Rivers Mall in Kelso.

According to investigators, a teenage boy was planning the attack at the mall with plans to bring those plans to fruition.

“We believe the FBI, along with our partners, prevented a tragic event in our community,” FBI Portland Special Agent In Charge Doug Olson said.

The FBI said the teen posted his plans in an online chat on May 17. It included a route to the mall where he planned to use a chlorine bomb to incite panic, then shoot mall patrons as they exited the movie theatre, before ultimately killing himself.

“I’ve hear

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