'Clock kid' Ahmed Mohamed visits White House for 'Astronomy Night'

Ahmed Mohamed, the 14-year-old who was arrested at MacArthur High School in Irving, Texas for allegedly bringing a hoax bomb to school, speaks during an interview with the Associated Press, Monday, Oct. 19, 2015, in Washington. Mohamed is in Washington for a visit to the White House for White House Astronomy Night. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)

The Justice Department is investigating the case of a 14-year-old Muslim boy who was arrested after bringing a homemade clock to his Texas high school.

Speaking at a Thursday event held by Muslim Advocates, a national legal advocacy group, Lynch said her department is looking into the actions of the Irving, Texas Police Department in the September arrest of high school freshman Ahmed Mohamed.

Mohamed was questioned and threatened with suspension after bringing what he described as a homemade clock to school. Police said a teacher had contacted authorities over concerns the item was a bomb. No charges were filed against Mohamed, but that did not stop outcry that the teen was targeted because he was Muslim.

"We have opened an investigation into the case of the young man in Irving, Texas so we will see where that goes," Lynch said.

The clock brought to school by teenager Ahmed Mohamed. Police questioned him over concerns the object was a bomb, setting off waves of controversy. (Contributed photo/Irving Police Department)

Lynch described Mohamed's arrest as an "extreme case" of growing fears over Muslims in America. Her comments were made a day after a Muslim couple killed 14 people during a shooting rampage in San Bernardino, California.

Officials have not confirmed the shootings were an act of terrorism but U.S. officials on Friday told CNN the two suspects, who were husband and wife, pledged support for ISIS just ahead of the attacks.

Lynch did not directly address the San Bernardino shootings but said her department had seen a "very disturbing rise in anti-Muslim rhetoric" since deadly shootings in Paris killed 140 people three weeks ago. Islamic militants with ISIS have claimed responsibility for the attacks.

Mohamed's case garnered national attention and prompted outcry that the teen was questioned only because he was Muslim. Several tech companies, as well as the President Obama, reached out to Mohamed after the incident and he eventually went to the White House to take part in a science night event.

Mohamed's family is currently seeking $15 million in damages and apologies in connection to the incident. The family has since moved to Qatar so Mohamed can attend a science institute in the country.