President Barack Obama has voiced his support for the 14-year-old Muslim teenager arrested by police after taking a homemade clock to school.

As reports said police from Irving, Texas, had decided they would not charge Ahmed Mohamed with making a hoax bomb - as his family had been told they might - Mr Obama invited the teenager to take his clock to the White House.

"Cool clock, Ahmed. Want to bring it to the White House?," he said.

"We should inspire more kids like you to like science. It's what makes America great."

Ahmed Mohamed was arrested for taking his homemade clock to school in Texas (Youtube)

The teenager told The Independent that he had lost his innocence after being detained by police and that he had been made to feel like a criminal. “I like science, but I look like a threat because of my brown skin," he said.