Ahmed Mohamed, a member of the robotics club at his school in Texas, loves building electronic toys and gadgets for fun.

But on Wednesday, the 14-year-old was arrested at his school for bringing a ‘homemade bomb’ into class.

Except what Ahmed had actually done is simply brought in a clock he’d made to show teachers…

A photo of his arrest quickly prompted outrage on the net, with social media users using the hashtag #IStandWithAhmed to support the muslim student.

And now President Obama has invited the 14-year-old to the White House, telling him: ‘We should inspire more kids like you to like science. It’s what makes America great.’

Religious spokespersons slammed Ahmed’s arrest for being ‘obviously’ about his faith and race, with Ibrahim Hooper stating: ‘The arrest would not have occurred if the student had not been Muslim.’

‘It is a symptom of growing Islamophobia that a 14-year-old was handcuffed and dragged away for doing a science project,’ he added.

Thousands of people, including Pharrell Williams and Ne-Yo, have taken to Twitter to lend their support to the schoolboy.

Pharrell tweeted: ‘Ahmed, it’s innovative, curious, bright minds like yours who move humanity forward. You are our future. Keep inventing!’

Speaking to the Independent, Ahmed said: ‘I have lost my innocence. I can never look at the world in the same way.’

He has been suspended from school for three days.