Student in custody after bomb scare at Texas high school

Associated Press

Published Monday, Jan. 13, 2014 | 11:08 a.m.

Updated Monday, Jan. 13, 2014 | 3:19 p.m.

KATY, Texas — A student was taken into custody Monday after a bomb squad was dispatched to a Houston-area high school for a "potential explosive device" in a campus building, according to school district officials.

The Katy school district announced on its website that Seven Lakes High School was safely evacuated Monday morning after campus police learned of a "perceived threat." A Harris County sheriff's office bomb squad responded.

Officials with the district about 20 miles west of Houston said on the website that the potential explosive was later identified and that a "student suspect is in custody." They did not elaborate.

Students were evacuated to an enclosed area on the baseball and football fields. They were later released for the day and after-school activities were canceled.

Authorities continued to search the campus to identify any potential threats. The school district said classes are expected to resume Tuesday.

The sheriff's office deferred questions to the Katy school district, which did not immediately respond to phone calls seeking more information.

A heavy law enforcement presence was seen at the front of the high school, which opened in 2005 and has about 4,000 students. Members of the bomb squad entered the school wearing thick protective gear and carrying an assortment of equipment.