Texas 9th grader arrested after bringing home-built clock to school
A Texas high school freshman has been arrested after one of his teachers said a homemade clock he had brought to school looked like a bomb.
Ahmed Mohamed,14, a self-assured kid with thick-framed glasses and a serious expression, is an avid inventor who built a simple clock to show an engineering teacher at his new high school this week, but the device alarmed his teachers and made them resort to 911, reports said on Wednesday.
In an incident that has prompted allegations of racism and made a Texas school district the target of online outrage, the boy was flanked out of school in handcuffs after a digital clock he built himself was mistaken for a bomb.
Police spokesman James McLellan said that, throughout the interview, Mohamed had contended that he built only a clock, but said the boy was unable to give a "broader explanation" as to what it would be used for. He was arrested on Monday.
“I really don’t think it’s fair because I brought something to school that wasn’t a threat to anyone,” Mohamed told NBC. “I didn’t do anything wrong. I just showed my teachers something and I end up being arrested later that day.”
Ahmed's father Mohamed Elhassan Mohamed, who is originally from Sudan, said his son "just wants to invent good things for mankind, but because his name is Mohamed and because of 11 September I think my son got mistreated".
"I think this wouldn't even be a question if his name wasn't Ahmed Mohamed," said Alia Salem, of the Council on American-Islamic Relations. "He is an excited kid who is very bright and wants to share it with his teachers."
Ahmed, his father, and attorneys with CAIR said they plan to meet with the principal and the police chief on Wednesday.
NYC Mayor Mamdani lauded after revoking pro-Israel decrees
Explainer: How America’s foster care system harms children instead of protecting them
Jeffrey Epstein, the African connection
Venezuela's government declares unwavering unity behind Maduro
VIDEO | Global outcry over Venezuela president abduction
Iran keeps wheat import subsidies despite cutting other food supports
Venezuelan military stands with acting president after US kidnapping of Maduro
VIDEO | Press TV's news headlines
VIDEO | Protesters in Toronto slam US kidnapping of Venezuelan president
Israeli troops detain, intimidate Palestinian toddler in West Bank
Iran says its investments in Venezuela face no major risk
PressTV NEWSLETTER
now
This makes it easy to access the Press TV website
