Ahmed Mohamed, the Texas 14-year-old who was arrested for bringing a homemade digital clock to school after a teacher said it looked like a bomb, has received invitations from the White House, Facebook, and his dream college.
(L-R) Attorney Linda Moreno, Ahmed Mohamed, and his father Mohamed Elhassan Mohamed address the media during a news conference. Photo: AFP
Texas police released the 14-year-old Muslim boy when it was determined there was no threat but not before the boy was placed in handcuffs and fingerprinted.
Officials at MacArthur High School in Irving alerted police because they thought the device was a "hoax bomb".
Ahmed Mohamed's arrest has been sharply criticised, and the boy has received an outpouring of support including an invitation to the White House from President Barack Obama.
Ahmed told reporters it was "very sad" that his teacher thought his clock was a threat.
"I built a clock to impress my teacher but when I showed it to her she thought it was a threat to her. I'm very sad that she got the wrong impression of it."
At the same news conference Ahmed announced he plans to transfer schools.
The hand made clock made by teenager Ahmed Mohamed. Photo: AFP PHOTO / IRVING POLICE DEPARTMENT
Ahmed's father Mohamed Elhassan Mohamed, who is originally from Sudan, praised his son's ingenuity, saying he fixes everything around the house, including his father's phone and computer.
"He's a very smart, brilliant boy and he said he just wanted to show himself to the world," he said.
The police have rejected the claim made by Ahmed's family that he was detained because of his name.
"We have always had an outstanding relationship with the Muslim community ...incidents like this present challenges. We want to learn how we can move forward and turn this into a positive," Irving Police Department chief Larry Boyd said.
Clock boy in demand
There's been a lot of outrage about what happened and loads of support for Ahmed.
Ahmed told reporters that he will be accepting US president Barack Obama's invitation to visit him in Washington DC.
The schoolboy also received invitations from Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg and astronaut Chris Hadfield.
Ahmed was pictured wearing a Nasa T-shirt when he was arrested.
Hi @IStandWithAhmed ! I'd love you to join us for our science show Generator in Toronto on 28 Oct. There's a ticket waiting for you.
— Chris Hadfield (@Cmdr_Hadfield) September 16, 2015
The space agency showed its support and he could be going to Space Camp thanks to a generous donor.
The budding engineer has called the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) his "dream school."
During an interview with MSNBC the 14-year-old was introduced to a surprise guest: MIT astrophysicist Chanda Prescod-Weinstein.
The scientist, who works in the university's top-ranked Department of Physics told Ahmed that he was exactly the "kind of student we want at places like MIT and Harvard."
I was on MSNBC tonight to make an invitation to the brilliant @IStandWithAhmed. He's such an impressive young man! http://t.co/efUKhMgd94
— Chanda (王嬋娟) (@IBJIYONGI) September 17, 2015
Ahmed's thanked his supporters on social media, who have been using the hashtag #IStandWithAhmed.
One of those was Grammy Award winning musician Pharrell Williams.
Ahmed, it's innovative, curious, bright minds like yours who move humanity forward. You are our future. Keep inventing! #IStandWithAhmed
— Pharrell Williams (@Pharrell) September 16, 2015
Ahmed has been offered help with changing schools.
Hello, @istandwithahmed some friends & I will give a $250,000 scholarship at top prep school Wilbraham Monson Academy if you’re interested
— Bruce Fenton (@brucefenton) September 17, 2015
Some have poked fun at what many have seen as an over-reaction from the school and police.
-BBC
