Pastor warns of 'Goth' culture after plot

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WINNIPEG, Manitoba, Dec. 21 (UPI) -- The pastor of a Canadian church where two teens had planned a mass killing says their arrests hold a lesson for parents about "Goth" culture.

Pastor Mark Hughes of Church of the Rock in Winnipeg, Manitoba, said Sunday his parishioners have forgiven the teens, a 17-year-old boy and an 18-year-old girl who were sentenced last week to two years in prison for a slaying plot to be carried out at the church and two schools, the Winnipeg Free Press reported.

But he urged parents to pay attention to the "dark world of the Gothic youth culture" that glorifies movie and television vampires.

"There is some really dark stuff out there online and other places," Hughes told the Free Press. "Too many parents are clued out as to what their kids are up to ... when I look at the latest rage in youth movies, it seems to me that pop culture is glorifying the dark spiritual world."

Reports indicated both youths wore black, Goth-style clothing. Police said the pair attempted suicide and were arrested after a friend tipped off authorities.

Authorities said the teens stole guns from the boy's grandmother and were in possession of a key to the church.