Teenager threatens to shoot bullies at private city school

The 14-year-old boy claimed he was going to take four bullets to George Watson's College

The pupil reportedly posted the warning in an internet suicide support chatroom under the username "imgonnadoit".

Police later raided the boy's family home in Edinburgh following the chilling claims made against fellow pupils at George Watson's College.

The 14-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, told the chatroom he was going to take four bullets to school the next day - three for the "meanest bullies" and one for himself. Concerned members of the web forum, which offers support to those struggling with a variety of issues, immediately contacted police.

Lothian and Borders Police searched the youngster's home for guns early yesterday morning and questioned him on the threats, which he admitted making after struggling to cope with bullying from pupils at the school.

However, the boy insisted that he was not serious about his threats and police confirmed that no further action was taken.

A member of the suicide support chatroom, who alerted police of the threat, said: "Other users thought the boy was joking and started encouraging him, telling him to go ahead and do it.

"It was a big joke at first. But alarm bells started ringing when he mentioned bullets.

"When he said he was going to school with bullets, I couldn't take any chances and called the police.

"There have been too many tragedies involving schools and guns.

"I couldn't live with myself if something had happened.

"The boy was clearly very upset and in need of urgent help. We had no way of telling if he had access to a gun and couldn't risk the possibility that he might have been telling the truth."

The drama unfolded in the early hours of yesterday morning when a member of the chatroom from Athlone, Ireland, was browsing the site and saw the boy's threats.

He alerted the Garda, the Irish police, and the boy's internet IP address was used to find out the area where he lived. Lothian and Borders Police were then informed.

The boy had told the site: 'Thanks for all your advice. I'm gonna bring four bullets to school tomorrow. Three for the meanest of the bullies, and one for me. Thanks.'

The matter will now be reported to social workers at Edinburgh City Council.

A spokesman for Lothian and Borders Police said: "Police attended at an address in Edinburgh after concerns were raised over the content of messages that had been posted on an online forum. Officers spoke to the individual concerned and no further action has been taken."

No one from George Watson's College was available for comment.

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