Apr 30, 2009 5:18 pm US/Eastern
2 Teens Accused Of Conspiring To Assault Principal
SILVER SPRING, Md. (WJZ/AP) ―
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Montgomery County police have arrested two high school students accused of conspiring to assault their principal and set the school on fire.
Two Maryland high school students are behind bars accused of trying to murder their principal and blow up their school.
Mike Hellgren reports there's new information surrounding the two teenagers behind the disturbing plot.
Authorities say the vicious and dangerous plan was formulated to injure the principal and guidance counselor with explosive devices then open the natural gas lines at Spring Brook High in Montgomery County and cause an explosion. That principal is now speaking out.
"Even more surprise and disappointment than alarm. Obviously it's a very serious situation," said Michael Durso, principal.
Police found chemicals used to make bombs after searching the teens' homes.
They also recovered notes and plans written by Yonata Getachew and Anthony Torrence about preparations and the physical design of the school building.
Torrence reportedly confessed to a school resource officer, but his attorney says he's now recanting.
"He tells me that he panicked and said things he shouldn't have said," said Torrence's attorney.
Torrence's mother agreed to speak to reporters without showing her face.
"They found nothing in my home. They had a search warrant, and the other student had everything in his home," said Torrence's mother.
"The larger issue is what we do as a school and what we do as a community to handle situations like this," said Durso.
Police say the school also received a threatening e-mail April 20, the tenth anniversary of the Columbine High School massacre in Colorado.
(© 2010 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
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