Source:
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,...est=latestnews
SAN MATEO, Calif. — A teen armed with a sword and chainsaw who had several pipe bombs strapped to his body was arrested Monday after two explosions rocked San Mateo’s Hillsdale High School, KTVU reported.
Police called the foiled attack that forced the evacuation of more than 1,200 students and teachers a Columbine-style plot, according to the station.
Authorities received several calls from Hillsdale High School beginning at 8:07 a.m. reporting that there was a gunman on the grounds, the station said. Shortly thereafter, reports came in of an explosion inside the school.
San Mateo Police Chief Susan Manheimer told KTVU that the teen came onto campus with the chainsaw, a 2-foot-long sword and 10 homemade pipe bombs attached to a tactical vest he was wearing.
He detonated two of the pipe bombs in an empty hallway near the library, and the smoke activated a fire alarm, Manheimer said.
Two teachers heard the explosions, ran into the hallway and confronted the teen, who then fled, Manheimer told KTVU. A third teacher caught up with the boy and tackled him, according to police Lt. Mike Brunicardi. A fourth arrived a minute later with school principal Jeff Gilbert to help hold the suspect down.
Brunicardi called the actions by Gilbert and the teachers "simply heroic," according to KTVU.
"All the while that the teachers and principal are confronting this kid, holding him down and tackling him, he's got eight live pipe bombs attached to his person," Brunicardi said.
No one was hurt in the explosion and no gun was found, according to Manheimer.
The incident prompted the evacuation of about 1,270 Hillsdale students.
Classes were canceled for the day as police and bomb squad units searched the premises to ensure no additional devices had been planted on school grounds.
Linear Mode
