Mortar Round Blast Injures 12 Students

FOLKSTON, Ga. — At least 12 high school students were injured when a mortar round that a student brought to the classroom was dropped and exploded, emergency workers said.

Three students were in critical condition and four were in serious condition with shrapnel wounds, said Gerri Lowe, a spokeswoman for University Medical Center in Jacksonville, Fla., near Folkston.

The explosion tore apart the room at the Charlton County High School and shook nearby houses.

Gregory Douglas had brought the mortar round to school and moments before it exploded had told classmates it was harmless, said Jed Norton, an emergency worker from Irwin County. It was dropped as students passed it around.