A 13-year-old wearing a mask fired an AK47 inside his school in Joplin, Missouri, yesterday morning. No one was hurt, and he was arrested, authorities said.

The boy pointed the assault rifle at Steve Gilbreth, the principal, and at a school administrator and two students. He then fired a shot into the ceiling, breaking a waterpipe, and said, “Please don’t make me do this.”

He was persuaded to leave the building, where he was confronted by two police officers with weapons drawn.

The student, who has not been named, dropped the rifle and was taken into custody, the superintendent, Jim Simpson, said. He had apparently been planning an attack for a long time, Mr Simpson added.

Schools in the US have been on the alert after several recent shootings, including the one in Pennsylvania Amish country. Church bells tolled yesterday in remembrance of the five girls who were killed. (AP)

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