Two girls from Bartow Middle School in Central Florida, ages 11 and 12  took knives, including a butcher's knife and pizza cutter to a Polk County middle school Tuesday in a Satanic plot to kill their classmates, according to authorities. Police said the attack was thwarted after officials learned of the plot.

"They told us they were Satan worshipers. They did make comments that they were willing to drink blood and possibly eat flesh, " Hall said.

The girls said they wanted to kill at least 15 people and were waiting for the opportunity to find smaller kids so they could overpower them, according to police.

“I do not believe that this was a joke,” the police chief said. “I believe that these two small children . . . seriously sat down and plotted to do serious bodily harm to another student at school.”

Searching the residence of said girls, police found a hand-drawn map of the middle school’s campus that said, “Go to kill in bathroom.” Officers searched the students' phones and found that the two had discussed killing themselves after leaving their classmates' body parts by the school’s entrance. “Thank Satan we are doing this in a bit,” the 12-year-old allegedly wrote in a message over social media on Tuesday.

Parents were sent a message Wednesday about the incident.

This message is being sent on behalf of Bartow Middle.

Dear families,

All students and staff are safe.

This is an update to a message that was sent yesterday afternoon.

Two Bartow Middle students have been arrested after bringing knives on campus.

The Bartow Police Department’s investigation indicates these students were planning to attack students.

Fortunately, they were discovered by school staff hiding in a bathroom during class time and were taken into custody without incident.

We understand this news can be upsetting. A team of counselors is available at the school to assist any employees and students. They will remain on site as long as they are needed.

We continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners, and we are assisting with their investigation. We greatly appreciate their help.

You may see more law enforcement officers on campus today and throughout the week. Rest assured that the campus is safe for students and staff. School operations are expected to proceed as normal.

This extra law enforcement presence is being done in an abundance of caution and to maintain a sense of calm on the campus.

The safety of our students, staff and their families is and always will be our first priority. Thank you.

The two middle school students are now in custody and have been charged with conspiracy to commit murder, possession of a weapon on school property and disrupting a school campus. Prosecutors have not yet indicated whether they will be charged as juveniles or adults. As of Wednesday evening, neither child had an attorney listed.