WAS THERE A MASTERMIND? COPS ARREST 7 YOUTHS AGED 11 TO 18 FOR TAHFIZ SCHOOL MURDERS, INSIST ‘NO OTHER SUSPECTS HAVE TO BE ARRESTED’ – BUT WOULD THEY KNOW HOW TO SPARK SUCH A HUGE FIRE?

KUALA LUMPUR ― The deadly tahfiz school fire case which killed 23 people on Thursday has been “solved” with the arrests of seven teenagers, Kuala Lumpur police chief Datuk Amar Singh declared today.

Amar said the seven teenagers aged 11 to 18 were nabbed in arrests from around 6pm on Friday until 2.30am today.

“With the arrests of these seven individuals, I can confirm that this case has been solved and no other suspects have to be arrested,” he said at a press conference at the KL police headquarters.

“This is a tragedy and I am happy we can solve it and can bring peace to the families,” he said, noting that the children who perished were aged six to 11.

He said the police have seized the shirts and pants that the suspects were wearing, as well as motorcycle helmets that they had used.

MEANWHILE, according to the Star:

Following the arrest of seven youths in connection the deadly fire at the Darul Quran Ittifaqiyah school, police are investigating the case as mischief by fire and murder.

The youths aged between 11 and 18 will be remanded until Sept 22. The case will be investigated under Section 435 of the Penal Code for mischief by fire and Section 302 for murder.

Kuala Lumpur Police chief Datuk Amar Singh Ishar Singh said in a press conference on Saturday that six of the seven teenagers arrested tested positive for ganja.

Whe asked, Amar said that the motive was believed to be from a misunderstanding due to teasing between the suspects and some of the tahfiz students several days before the fire.

He also said that two of the youths also had police records – one for rioting and another for theft of a vehicle.

Amar said some of the youths are school leavers and others were schooling at schools nearby the Darul Quran Ittifaqiyah school.

Amar said that police also seized clothes, helmets and a motorcycle from the suspects.

Amar said that investigations show that an accelerant was used and that two gas cylinders were moved from the lower floor of the school to the upper floor.

Amar also urged the public to stop the circulation of viral messages regarding the case.

“Stop this, because it will affect the investigation and the process in court,” he said.

The 5.15 am fire at the tahfiz school resulted in the death of 21 students and two teachers. Six others students sustained injuries.

MALAY MAIL / ANN