18 Aug 2011

Teen bomb plotter under arrest

1:30 pm on 18 August 2011

A teenager is under arrest in Florida for plotting to blow up his former classmates at school next week.

Police say Jared Cano, 17, wanted to cause more casualties than the 1999 Columbine attack after being expelled from school more than a year ago.

The ABC reports he is accused of planning to plant a device at Freedom High School in north Tampa and detonate it as the students began the new school year next week.

Police say fuel, shrapnel, plastic tubing and timing and fusing devices were found at his home.

He was arrested on Tuesday night after an unnamed individual ''came forth with information'' about the plot.

Tampa police chief Jane Castor said Cano had hoped "to cause more casualties than ... at Columbine."

In April 1999, two students at Columbine High School in Colorado killed 12 students and ateacher.

Police said Cano had been arrested on several juvenile charges in the past, including burglary, drug possession and weapons offences.

He now faces charges of threatening to throw, project, place or discharge a destructive device and possession of bomb-making materials.