An arsenal of weapons found at Albert Einstein High School following a gunshot at the school Wednesday were linked to “gang activity,” according to a memo from the county school superintendent and county police.

Several weapons, including automatic handguns, a revolver and knives, were found during a police search at the Kensington school after a ninth-grade student accidentally fired a weapon, according to police and the memo obtained by The Examiner.

“Initial reports indicate that this incident may be related to gang activity in the community,” said a memo sent to county school board members by Superintendent Jerry Weast late Wednesday. “We have been informed that police recovered a gym bag ... [that] contained several weapons. ...”

Montgomery County police said they believe the handguns were being examined by five male students who were intending to sell them when the gun discharged. No one was injured.

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The Weast memo said the ninth-grader who is believed to have fired a weapon in the school was arrested, and that at least 10 other students have been detained on “unknown charges.”

But Montgomery County police said they’ve detained six students, one female and five males between the ages of 14 and 17, and that handgun-related charges were “pending” as of late Wednesday.

Some students at the high school said gang activity has been increasing in recent months.

“I know some people at Einstein are in gangs,” said Cathryn Supko, an Einstein senior, adding the school is socially divided. “But I’ve never felt unsafe there at all.”

But officials said few answers were available late Wednesday to explain how deadly weapons got into the high school.

“Motive, intent, who was really involved, all of that is still under investigation,” said Kate Harrison, county school spokeswoman. She noted that there have been reports of tension among student groups.

Around 1 p.m. a student reported hearing a gunshot from inside a boys bathroom at the high school, police said. The school was immediately placed on “code red,” and students were ordered to stay behind locked doors. The emergency was lifted two hours after the scheduled 2:10 p.m. dismissal and students were allowed to go home.

School and police officials said they can’t recall weapons ever turning up inside a county school. None of the schools in the county are guarded by metal detectors, which are common at schools in the District.

“There will be an increased police presence as school opens tomorrow,” Harrison said.

fklopott@dcexaminer.com