NEWS that two teenage boys have been charged after allegedly planning an imminent deadly massacre at a school in South Australia’s Riverland has devastated the community.

Police yesterday revealed they had thwarted an alleged plot by two teenage boys to massacre students and staff at a Riverland high school.

It will be alleged the duo, aged 16 and 18, were planning to attack the school they attended using guns, knives and homemade bombs, before the end of this school term.

The Riverland community is still reeling from the allegations.

Local mother-of-three Shayle Reid said she was still unable to comprehend news of the alleged plot to attack the Riverland high school.

media_camera Shayle Reid, with daughter Jasmine, said the allegations were “really, really scary”. Picture: Dylan Coker

Ms Reid said she was not happy details surrounding the incident were kept under wraps for so long.

“I don’t think it’s fair that they’ve kept it from everyone,” Ms Reid said.

“It is really, really scary,” she said.

“It’s shocking, who would think anything like this would ever happen in Australia.”

The Advertiser understands only parents of students at the high school in question were invited to the open forum.

The alleged plot has been described as deeply concerning by South Australia’s police minister and unbelievable by senior police.

“There is no doubt in my mind that we prevented a catastrophe,” Detective Superintendent Des Bray said.

The 16-year-old has been charged with soliciting to murder and the 18-year-old with four aggravated counts of threatening to kill.

Police said the pair was involved in planning the attack between June 1 and November 7 this year.

“Police will allege they intended to cause harm to a large number of people,” Det-Supt Bray said.

“We believe most likely the attack would have occurred, if not stopped, before the end of the current school term.”

The matter first came to the attention of police on November 3, with both boys taken into custody soon after.

Det-Supt Bray said searches at several properties uncovered knives, homemade body armour and bombs.

He said the duo was not going to target specific individuals “but the faculty and students”.

“They told some other people about what they were intending to do, and then they told other people,” Det-Supt Bray said.

“Soon it became known to quite a number of people.

“There is no evidence to show that any other person was linked with this matter, nor did the two individuals have possession of firearms.”

media_camera Des Bray describes the foiled attack on a Riverland high school.

Det-Supt Bray said it would be “unbelievable to think that this sort of thing could happen in SA”.

“I am not aware of us having an incident like this in recent times,” he said.

“There is no doubt in my mind that we prevented a catastrophe.”

Det-Supt Bray said police believed the pair was “actively planning, it was a real threat, and it was likely it would have been carried out if it hadn't been thwarted by the police and actions of the community”.

A community forum was recently held in the Riverland in relation to the incident.

The high school’s principal wrote to students and parents about the matter yesterday afternoon to assure them the school was safe.

A local community leader said the allegations had “devastated” the close-knit community.

“It’s tragic for the school community but it is a one-off situation,” he said.

“We are pleased that our community has worked together and avoided this crisis and that’s the good thing that has come out of this.”

He urged anyone in the community who had information to contact police.

Det-Supt Bray said police took the rumours seriously.

“When you hear these sort of things getting bandied about, it warrants police taking it seriously even though it might be rumour,” he said.

He said with both teenagers detained, there was no risk to the community and no evidence to suggest anyone else was involved.

Det-Supt Bray said police had worked closely with numerous organisations during the investigation, particularly the Education Department and school authorities.

“The safety of the community has been, and remains SAPOL’s highest priority,” Det-Supt Bray said.

“If there is any risk to the community, SA Police will take appropriate steps to advise the community in a timely manner.”

The offence of solicit to murder carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.

Police Minister Chris Picton said the allegations were “deeply concerning”.

“In our state, on the whole, we are fortunate to have a harmonious community but there is always potential for a threat of this nature to occur and so it’s important for everyone to remain vigilant,” he said.

“In this case, the police took very swift action to intercept what could have been a devastating situation for this Riverland community. I commend the police for their actions to investigate this incident and their subsequent work to engage with and reassure people in the local area.”

Education Minister Susan Close commended the school’s reaction to its community.

“At the time of the arrests the school did an incredible job informing parents, making sure a letter went out,” she said.

“The high school held a public forum to make sure everyone understood what had occurred, within the limits of what was able to be said, and also that they were perfectly safe and they could re-engage with the school with no problems.”

The accused teens have been remanded in custody to face court at a later date.

Anyone with information that may be of use to police, and has not already been interviewed, should contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.