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US probes teen 'pregnancy pact' | US probes teen 'pregnancy pact' |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Officials in the US state of Massachusetts are investigating how 17 teenage girls from the same school have become pregnant. | Officials in the US state of Massachusetts are investigating how 17 teenage girls from the same school have become pregnant. |
The number is four times as high as the year before at Gloucester High School. | The number is four times as high as the year before at Gloucester High School. |
There are reports that some of the girls - none of whom is older than 16 - entered into a pact to have their babies together. | There are reports that some of the girls - none of whom is older than 16 - entered into a pact to have their babies together. |
The girls or their families have so far made no comment. Officials are also investigating the age of the fathers. | The girls or their families have so far made no comment. Officials are also investigating the age of the fathers. |
Some are believed to be in their twenties and could face the possibility of being charged with having sex with minors. | Some are believed to be in their twenties and could face the possibility of being charged with having sex with minors. |
Disturbing | Disturbing |
When students at Gloucester High School broke up for the summer, officials, parents and the whole community had to face up to a shocking statistic. | |
Seventeen teenage pupils had walked out of the school gates pregnant. | Seventeen teenage pupils had walked out of the school gates pregnant. |
More disturbing is that some of the schools own staff believe that this was no accident. | More disturbing is that some of the schools own staff believe that this was no accident. |
Local officials say that nearly half of the girls had entered into a bizarre pact to have their babies together. | Local officials say that nearly half of the girls had entered into a bizarre pact to have their babies together. |
The school principle says that several students returned multiple times to take pregnancy tests and some appeared upset when they found out they were not pregnant. | The school principle says that several students returned multiple times to take pregnancy tests and some appeared upset when they found out they were not pregnant. |
The school - which has 1,200 students - carried out 150 pregnancy tests in the past year alone. | The school - which has 1,200 students - carried out 150 pregnancy tests in the past year alone. |