Two teenage women accused of planning a “mass casualty assault” to bomb and shoot up a Houston-area highschool have been arrested, authorities mentioned.
The women, 15 and 16, have been taken into custody Tuesday, about half-hour after legislation enforcement was made conscious of the risk, mentioned Spring Department Impartial College District Police Chief Larry Baimbridge.
Their names weren’t launched by authorities as a result of they’re minors.
The FBI discipline workplace in Houston mentioned it had obtained data “that two underage youngsters from the Houston space have been plotting a mass casualty assault” at Memorial Excessive College within the Houston suburb of Hedwig Village.
The alleged risk concerned the women utilizing weapons and inserting pipe bombs on the college, NBC affiliate KPRC of Houston reported. The 16-year-old is assigned to Memorial however was attending another district college for college kids who fall behind, Baimbridge mentioned. After catching up, she might have returned to Memorial. The 15-year-old is a Willis Excessive College pupil.
Baimbridge mentioned legislation enforcement had obtained “communications” that indicated the women have been plotting the assault. He mentioned the “specificity” of these communications is why legislation enforcement acted so quick.
“Whenever you learn the context of the communication, it’s fairly apparent that is effectively past simply throwing some concepts round,” he mentioned. “This was a really clear plan.”
The chief mentioned he believes the women had been planning the assault for “many weeks, if not months,” and in current days, “it began ramping up.”
When requested a few doable motive, the chief mentioned: “The one factor I used to be capable of confirm was there was simply an total disdain for her fellow college students.”
Willis Impartial College District in Montgomery County mentioned it was made conscious of the incident Wednesday.
“We’re so grateful to the FBI and different legislation enforcement businesses that work collectively to maintain college students throughout the nation protected from those that intend to hurt others,” the district mentioned in a press release. “This incident affirms the significance of consciousness and vigilance in defending our college students and workers.”
The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Workplace mentioned extra safety measures have been applied at district colleges.
“We’re treating this matter with the utmost urgency and dedication, as threats of violence in our colleges won’t be tolerated,” the sheriff’s workplace mentioned in a information launch.
The 16-year-old was charged with making a terroristic risk, a third-degree felony. The 15-year-old was in custody on unrelated costs.
Minyvonne Burke
Minyvonne Burke is a senior breaking information reporter for NBC Information.