By Elizabeth F. McNamara

East Greenwich, R.I. – The federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) is investigating East Greenwich residents in connection with remains of an exploded device found in the woods in West Greenwich in early April, sources said Tuesday.

No arrests have been made.

ATF spokesman Matthew O’Shaughnessy declined to comment about the investigation but said he hoped to be able to release some information in “the next day or two.”

When asked if there was any danger to residents of East Greenwich, O’Shaughnessy said residents were safe.

Local residents said they saw ATF officials at a house on Overfield Road and one in the Stone Ridge-Signal Ridge neighborhoods Monday.

Students at East Greenwich High School said state police were at the high school Monday and some students were questioned. School officials would not confirm that.

“It’s an ATF case and we’re assisting,” state police spokeswoman Laura Meade Kirk said Tuesday. She declined further comment.

Supt. Victor Mercurio said it was not a school matter and that no students were removed from the high school. He declined to comment further, referring questions to the ATF office in Boston. EGPD and the state police also referred questions to the ATF.

Sources said the investigation started after remains of an explosive device were found during a search in early April for an elderly Coventry man in West Greenwich near the East Greenwich line. (The man’s body was found in the area five days later.)

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