Bomb plot foiled in US high school

Police in Florida have thwarted a pupil’s “catastrophic” plot to blow up a school on the first day of classes.

Tampa police chief Jane Castor said Jared Cano, a 17-year-old expelled pupil, had threatened to plant a device at Freedom High School.

Officers found a journal and materials to make pipe bombs, including a fuel source, shrapnel, plastic tubing and timing and fusing devices.

Officials said the journal contained schematic drawings of rooms inside the school and disturbing statements about his intent to kill.

They also found a marijuana growing operation.

He faces felony charges of possessing bomb-making materials, cultivating marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, possessing of marijuana and threatening to throw, project, place or discharge a destructive device.