Texas schoolboy handcuffed for bringing homemade clock to school

[umbertino]

Ahmed Mohamed was handcuffed after his school called police over the digital clock which ‘looked like a bomb’ to a teacher

 

 

Alex Hern

 

Wednesday 16 September 2015 15.34 BST

 

 

 

Police and school authorities in Irving, Texas are under fire after arresting a 14-year-old boy for bringing a homemade clock into school.

 

Ahmed Mohamed, an engineering hobbyist, made the timepiece and brought it to school in the hope of impressing teachers and fellow students in his first few weeks at MacArthur High School. But when he showed it to an English teacher after it beeped during her lesson, she told him it looked like a bomb.

 

Later in the day, the school’s principal and a police officer came to pull him out of class, and again the principal told Ahmed that “it looks like a movie bomb to me”. Throughout, the student says, he told everyone who would listen that the device was a clock, but police still led him out of school at 3pm, according to local reports, “his hands cuffed behind his back and an officer on each arm”.

 

A police spokesman told the Dallas Morning News that they didn’t believe Ahmed was building the clock out of pure curiosity. “We have no information that he claimed it was a bomb,” he said. “He kept maintaining it was a clock, but there was no broader explanation.”

 

When asked what other explanation “It could reasonably be mistaken as a device if left in a bathroom or under a car. The concern was, what was this thing built for? Do we take him into custody?”

 

In a letter sent out by Dan Cummings, head of MacArthur High School, the principal told parents that “Irving Police Department responded to a suspicious-looking item on campus yesterday. We are pleased to report that after the police department’s assessment, the item discovered at school did not pose a threat to your child’s safety.”

 

Cummings recommended parents “talk with your child about the Student Code of Conduct and specifically not bringing items to school that are prohibited. Also, this is a good time to remind your child how important it is to immediately report any suspicious items and/or suspicious behavior they observe to any school employee so we can address it right away. We will always take necessary precautions to protect our students.”

 

The case comes against the background of accusations of Islamaphobia in Irving, where the town’s mayor, Beth Van Duyne, became something of a national celebrity after she accused Islamic leaders of “bypassing American courts” by offering voluntary Shariah-law mediation to worshippers. The Council on American-Islamic Relations has said Ahmed’s case “raises a red flag for us: how Irving’s government entities are operating in the current climate … We’re still investigating, but it seems pretty egregious.”

 

The actions of the school and police have also struck a chord with hackers across the world, who view the treatment of Ahmed as emblematic of a clampdown on the freedom to tinker with electronics. The Electronic Frontiers Foundation tweeted that “Making clocks is not a crime”, while Wired Magazine responded by posting their own instructions on How to Make Your Own Homemade Clock That Isn’t a Bomb”.

 

Anil Dash, a prolific blogger and founder of Think-up, quoted Barack Obama saying “Together, let us unleash the imagination of our people, affirm that we are a Nation of makers, and ensure that the next great technological revolution happens right here in America.” Dash added that “many of us have been moved to offer support to Ahmed and his creativity,” and has started to crowdsource a list of ideas “that can help change the culture of Irving to be more welcoming to innovators of all kinds”.

 

Ahmed has received a three-day suspension from class. According to the Dallas Morning News, he has vowed never to take an invention to school again.

 

 

Vid  and pic in link

 

http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2015/sep/16/sudanse-american-boy-handcuffed-homemade-clock-school

 

[mrparrot]

Dear Lord,

Please add another few cups

of disinfectant to the gene pool...

[MyLadiesDaddy]

Dear Lord,

Please add another few cups

of disinfectant to the gene pool...

I think we're gonna need more than that.   Wit a name like, Ahmed Mohamed 

 

coming to school with a home made clock DESIGNED TO LOOK LIKE A BOOM,

 

{as in testing the responses of the teachers and the authorities} What the heck did the idiot 

 

expect. Personally I think that anyone that stupid should be expelled, education isn't gonna help. 

 

 

Tell Europe how peaceful they are.

Edited September 16, 2015 by ladyGrace'sDaddy

[umbertino]

Quote

Wit a name like, Ahmed Mohamed

End Quote

 

I hope he's not guilty just for having that name...Not his fault if that's his name...If it starts again to check people based on names ( and last names)...Brings back old  and bad memories...Hopefully it won't be the case

Edited September 16, 2015 by umbertino

[MyLadiesDaddy]

Quote

Wit a name like, Ahmed Mohamed

End Quote

 

I hope he's not guilty just for having that name...Not his fault if that's his name...If it starts again to check people based on names ( and last names)...Brings back old  and bad memories...Hopefully it won't be the case

Nope he's NOT guilty because of his name.

If he's guilty of anything most likely it's stupidity for having

that name and bringing anything that looks like a bomb to school.

However, considering the large Muslim contingency in that area,

and that they've repeatedly attempted to get Sharia Law enacted ,

I'd suspect that he's probably guilty of testing the response

of the authorities.

You should know me better by now my friend.

[bigwave]

I tried to get the picture from http://www.weaselzippers.us/

 

It does not look like a clock.

 

Edited September 17, 2015 by TexasGranny
added image

[DinarMillionaire]

Of course, Obama tweeted support for little Mohamed. And invited him to the WH. No, I'm not making that up. WTH?

[MyLadiesDaddy]

Of course, Obama tweeted support for little Mohamed. And invited him to the WH. No, I'm not making that up. WTH?

Birds of a feather, 

[dog53]

Yeah I seen a pic of it. It certainly did not look like any clock that I ever seen. A timer for a detonator yes clock no..

Was probably innocent enough BUT considering that a large part of the Muslim world wants us dead I gotta agree with LGD.

[pattyangel]

Redflag!!!! practice trial run with a 14 year old Muslim.  Hmmmm ponder on it a bit.....

[Shabibilicious]

Why would any Muslim or immigrant for that matter, choose Texas for a home?     Must be some fantastic employment opportunities there.     

 

GO RV, then BV

[MyLadiesDaddy]

Lowest unemployment in the nation.

[pattyangel]

Shab's everyone knows its because of the "BLUEBONNETS" The highways are filled with them.  LOL!!!!

 

But don't be fooled by the beauty of Texas,  its the largest state to defend the 2nd amendment and the United States Constitution.  LDG is correct, its the lowest employment in the nation.  

 

Big reason for the media to harass the state of Texas. Diminish the big states first...another thought to ponder!  

 

Don't have a problem with immigrants, just have a problem with them trying to change and enforce their laws.  You come to the United States, you live and die by the laws of the United States.  Very simple really,   

[Shabibilicious]

Shab's everyone knows its because of the "BLUEBONNETS" The highways are filled with them.  LOL!!!!

 

But don't be fooled by the beauty of Texas,  its the largest state to defend the 2nd amendment and the United States Constitution.  LDG is correct, its the lowest employment in the nation.  

 

Big reason for the media to harass the state of Texas. Diminish the big states first...another thought to ponder!

 

Don't have a problem with immigrants, just have a problem with them trying to change and enforce their laws.  You come to the United States, you live and die by the laws of the United States.  Very simple really,   

 

Former Gov. Palin might take exception to your 2nd Amendment Claim.  And what is a BLUEBONNET......a tub of butter?    

 

GO RV, then BV

Edited September 17, 2015 by Shabibilicious

[Yukon Silvermoon]

I bet if he were a white Christian, everybody here would be up in arms.

[reveldog]

i just hope and pray our schools dont become a new target 

[reveldog]

I bet if he were a white Christian, everybody here would be up in arms.

he would be expelled ,parents arrested , and labeled a terrorist and no visit to the white house  

[MyLadiesDaddy]

I bet if he were a white Christian, everybody here would be up in arms.

The President, the media, and even Shabbs is up in arms. What the problem is?

[Shabibilicious]

The President, the media, and even Shabbs is up in arms. What the problem is?

 

Not me......I don't even know that kid.     Why would anybody make a clock anyways.....they're like 3 bucks at Wally World?     And to all you neggers......Alaska is BIGGER!!       

 

GO RV, then BV

[Texstorm]

Practice practice practice..........boom ! Obama needs to stay out of local politics he has already cost enough lives.

[jg1]

Hope he gets to show his bomb. Uh I mean clock to our prez.

[Shabibilicious]

Practice practice practice..........boom ! Obama needs to stay out of local politics he has already cost enough lives.

 

Obama is the relief pitcher in an already out of control game.  The loss belongs to the starting pitcher......Dubya.    

 

GO RV, then BV

[Yukon Silvermoon]

Not me......I don't even know that kid.     Why would anybody make a clock anyways.....they're like 3 bucks at Wally World?     And to all you neggers......Alaska is BIGGER!!       

 

GO RV, then BV

Making stuff is fun.  We made a flashlight once out of a spraypaint handle thing, an LED, a toggle switch, a work light, and some batteries.  It was sketchier than a Craigslist date but it was fun.  

[8th ID]

Obama is the relief pitcher in an already out of control game.  The loss belongs to the starting pitcher......Dubya.    

 

GO RV, then BV

 

 Why do you have to bring baseball into this Shabs !!   :lol:  

 

Obama is gonna get a blown save here for the loss, not "Dubya"

 

 

[zzztop]

Remember the kid who was disciplined for eating a pop tart into the shape of a gun?  You libstains were okay with that.