Two teenage girls were arrested in Houston for allegedly planning a violent attack at a local school. The FBI made the announcement on Wednesday, marking the second such incident the agency has intervened in within a week.
Authorities became aware of the threat on Tuesday and quickly coordinated with the Houston Police and the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office to apprehend the suspects.
The investigation revealed that these students had made online threats, indicating their intent to carry out violence at a school within the Spring Branch Independent School District. One girl was from a different district and was arrested on unrelated charges, while the other was taken into custody in Harris County.
Both girls, aged 15 and 16, were in the early stages of planning their attack, which allegedly involved pipe bombs and firearms. Law enforcement acted swiftly, arresting the suspects within half an hour of receiving the tip.
This incident highlights the important role of anonymous reporting systems in schools. More than half of K-12 schools in the U.S. utilize these systems. A study found that out of approximately 18,000 tips over four academic years, nearly 10% mentioned firearm-related threats, often connected to potential school shootings.
Schools have increasingly relied on these reporting tools as students often use them to inform authorities about possible threats.
The sheriff’s office emphasized its commitment to addressing any threats of violence, stating, “We take this matter very seriously. The safety of our students and community is our top priority.” They also indicated that additional security measures would be put in place in collaboration with the school district and other law enforcement agencies.
The FBI expressed gratitude for the community’s vigilance, noting that such threats highlight the necessity of their work to protect communities. They credited the rapid investigation for potentially saving lives.
This incident comes just days after authorities arrested another teenager in Indiana for planning a similar attack on Valentine’s Day.
In that case, a tip was reported to the Sandy Hook Promise tip line, mentioning that the suspect had access to a firearm and showed alarming behavior, including admiration for past school shooters.
