Alabama teen accused of plotting to bomb classmates in 'potential terrorist attacks'
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}An eastern Alabama high school student faces an attempted assault charge after authorities say he planned to use homemade explosives in a terrorist attack on fellow students at his school.
Derek Shrout, a 17-year-old student at Russell County High School in Seale, appeared in court Monday afternoon at a hearing. A judge has set Shrout's bond at $75,000.
Shrout was apprehended after a journal was found by a teacher and turned over to authorities, Russell County Sheriff Heath Taylor said.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"The journal contained several plans that looked like potential terrorist attacks, and attacks of violence and danger on the school," Taylor told WTVM-TV. "And in particular, there were six students specifically named, and one teacher."
Taylor said he believes the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary was a factor because the first date in the boy's journal describing the plan was Dec. 17: three days after the Connecticut killings.
Taylor added that the boy told investigators that he's a white supremacist and five of the six students he named in his journal are black.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}A search of Shrout's home found several small tobacco cans and two large cans, all with holes drilled in them and containing pellets, Taylor told the Columbus Ledger-Enquirer.
The devices were just "a step or two away from being ready to explode," the sheriff said.
Taylor praised the efforts of school officials and others.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"The system worked and thank God, it did," he said. "We avoided a very bad situation."
Seale is about 80 miles east of Montgomery.