HARRIS COUNTY, Texas —The FBI and local law enforcement agencies arrested two teenage girls, ages 15 and 16, who were allegedly plotting a mass attack using pipe bombs and firearms at Memorial High School in Harris County, Texas, 6 ABC News reported.
Authorities became aware of the threats on Feb. 18, prompting the FBI’s Threat Mitigation Team to act quickly. By 2:45 p.m. CST, the FBI had contacted law enforcement agencies in Montgomery County, Harris County and the Spring Branch Independent School District. Within 30 minutes, both girls were located and taken into custody, according to the report.
“This is a perfect example of state and federal law enforcement working together,” said Spring Branch ISD Police Chief Larry Baimbridge. "…I’m grateful to the FBI for getting us information right away so we could act quickly.”
The 16-year-old, a Memorial High School student, has been charged with making a terroristic threat, according to the report. The 15-year-old is in custody in Montgomery County on an unrelated charge. No weapons or bomb-making materials were immediately found, though investigations continue in both counties.
FBI Houston spokesperson Connor Hagan emphasized the importance of collaboration in preventing such incidents.
“We were able to take troubling information we received, conduct a rapid investigation, turn our results over to trusted local law enforcement partners and ultimately save lives of innocent students,” Hagan said. “This type of situation is exactly why the FBI exists.”
This incident follows a similar case in early Feburary in Mooresville, Indiana, where the FBI disrupted another potential school attack, according to the report.
