14 year old arrested for bringing in homemade clock

thebennyboy · 16 Sep 2015 at 16:44

A 14-year-old boy was arrested by police in Texas after a homemade clock he wanted to show his school teachers was mistaken for a bomb.

The homemade clock consisted of a circuit board with wires leading to a digital display.
Later in the day the boy was pulled out of class and interviewed by the school's headteachers and four police officers.

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-34266389

What the hell? He built a digital clock and a teacher thought it was a timer for a bomb? America seems to be moving backwards.

Considering he built the clock himself at 14, this should be encouraged! Nicking him and charging him with "making a hoax bomb" is a complete and utter joke.

Opinions?

UPDATED:

Picture of Ahmed in cuffs whilst wearing a Nasa shirt:

Video of Ahmed after the initial accusations:

Thanks Winky_The_Winking_Turtle for finding the pic and youtube video.

GeX · 16 Sep 2015 at 16:45

Sounds like what movies have told me a bomb looks like.

Uther · 16 Sep 2015 at 16:46

Lol America?

thebennyboy · 16 Sep 2015 at 16:46

GeX said:
Sounds like what movies have told me a bomb looks like.

It was just a circuit board and a digital display... not exactly a bomb.

Greebo · 16 Sep 2015 at 16:47

depends on the cicumstances.

Home made clock is fine.

Home made digital clock connected to a lump of plastacine isnt.

Its all context

Kosmiche · 16 Sep 2015 at 16:48

I guess clocks will be clocking in that clock when he clocks off in prison

thebennyboy · 16 Sep 2015 at 16:48

Greebo said:
depends on the cicumstances.

Home made clock is fine.

Home made digital clock connected to a lump of plastacine isnt.

Its all context

My problem is that the teacher immediately assumed it was a bomb, would she have said that if the kids name was David instead of Ahmed? Or if he was white instead of black?

Hagar · 16 Sep 2015 at 16:51

I remember making a sinclair matchbox transistor radio at that age. But it was fifty years ago.

A word from a headmaster I could possibly understand but four police is a bit OTT.

setter · 16 Sep 2015 at 16:51

I guess he will end up doing a spot of time for this.

Diddums · 16 Sep 2015 at 16:51

thebennyboy said:
My problem is that the teacher immediately assumed it was a bomb, would she have said that if the kids name was David instead of Ahmed? Or if he was white instead of black?

Spot on. Texas too. Merica, land of the free amirite? :rolleyes:

OhEsEcks · 16 Sep 2015 at 16:52

Because America: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2007_Boston_bomb_scare

Greebo · 16 Sep 2015 at 16:52

thebennyboy said:
My problem is that the teacher immediately assumed it was a bomb, would she have said that if the kids name was David instead of Ahmed? Or if he was white instead of black?

On looking at the report it appears he made the circuit board and digital clock and then mounted it all in a briefcase.

The issue came about when one of his teachers heard it beep in class as he had it hidden in his bag.

Right or wrongly but I would agree with the kid been a muslim called mohammed, the teacher isnt going to take any chances when a pupil has what appears to be a bomb in school are they?

So if the teacher had just asked and the kid said "its a clock" and they go thats fine then and it turned out to be a home made bomb, it wouldnt look good later?

Mr Jones · 16 Sep 2015 at 16:52

America + Muslim Kid + Tick Tock = OMG!

He apparently got suspended for 3 days. (WHAT?!)

Terminal_Boy · 16 Sep 2015 at 16:52

thebennyboy said:
My problem is that the teacher immediately assumed it was a bomb, would she have said that if the kids name was David instead of Ahmed? Or if he was white instead of black?

Undoubtedly. The Columbine shooters and Oklahoma bombers where white with Anglican names.

thebennyboy · 16 Sep 2015 at 16:55

The dozy mare of a teacher could have asked him to open it and let her check it. But to immediately assume it's a bomb because it beeped... makes my blood boil. Should be encouraging creativity not discouraging it!!

Greebo · 16 Sep 2015 at 16:58

thebennyboy said:
The dozy mare of a teacher could have asked him to open it and let her check it. But to immediately assume it's a bomb because it beeped... makes my blood boil. Should be encouraging creativity not discouraging it!!

To be fair though, since its mounted in a case, if it was a bomb, the person would lie and say its just a clock wouldnt they?

They are hardly going to say "yep, its a bomb"

ANd with the Americans been so cautious they are always going to assume it might be a bomb and call the police.

Though i do think once it was shown to be a clock, then they should have left it at that. To suspend from school and investigate charges of imitation bomb hoax is taking things a bit far.

Still, a bit weird he went to the trouble of fitting it inside a suitcase though?

cheesyboy · 16 Sep 2015 at 16:59

Mr Jones said:
He apparently got suspended for 3 days. (WHAT?!)

This was, almost, the worst bit. After all was resolved, they still suspended him from school.

The pic of him in handcuffs whilst wearing a NASA t-shirt...

thebennyboy · 16 Sep 2015 at 17:01

Greebo said:
To be fair though, since its mounted in a case, if it was a bomb, the person would lie and say its just a clock wouldnt they?

They are hardly going to say "yep, its a bomb"

ANd with the Americans been so cautious they are always going to assume it might be a bomb and call the police.

Though i do think once it was shown to be a clock, then they should have left it at that. To suspend from school and investigate charges of imitation bomb hoax is taking things a bit far.

Still, a bit weird he went to the trouble of fitting it inside a suitcase though?

They have every right to be cautious but to immediately assume that a digital clock that a 14 year old made is a bomb? Bloody ridiculous!

Greebo · 16 Sep 2015 at 17:03

thebennyboy said:
They have every right to be cautious but to immediately assume that a digital clock that a 14 year old made is a bomb? Bloody ridiculous!

I think the big issue is the mounting of it in a briefcase. Yes make a clock, thats great.

But make a digital clock and install it in a briefcase and have it beep does seem to be almost making it like a hoax bomb like kids see in films/tv.

Cosimo · 16 Sep 2015 at 17:05

thebennyboy said:
Opinions?

Why no link to the story?