US Muslim teen arrested for clock to attend White House

A U.S. Muslim teen arrested after a teacher mistook his homemade clock for a bomb will attend an astronomy event at the White House on Monday. 

But Ahmed Mohamed probably will not meet President Barack Obama.

“I don’t believe the president will have the opportunity to meet one-on-one with Ahmed Mohamed,” said White House spokesman Josh Earnest. “There are several hundred people who are planning to participate in tonight's festivities on the South Lawn."

Earnest said he was not aware if Mohamed would take his clock to the event, but he will be subjected to the same security screening process as all other guests.

The Sudanese-American’s story attracted worldwide attention on social media last month, and Obama even tweeted an invitation for the 14-year-old to visit the White House and show off his invention.

Ahmed’s arrest took place at a time when rising Islamophobia has exacerbated the debate around religious freedom in the U.S.

His arrest was widely criticized and charges against him were eventually dropped.