Wednesday January 15, 2025

Malaysian authorities say deadly religious school fire due to arson

Published : 21 Sep 2017, 23:26

DF-Xinhua Report

Local residents and journalists gather near the fire site at a religious school in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on Sept. 14, 2017. At least 25 people have died in a fire at a religious school in Kuala Lumpur early Thursday morning, the Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department said in a statement. File Photo Xinhua.

Malaysia's Fire and Rescue Department said Thursday the deadly religious school fire that killed 23 a week ago was an act of arson.

Fire Department director-general Wan Mohd Nor Ibrahim said in a statement that the blaze was started with petrol at the entrance to the dormitory at the third level of the building.

Two liquid petroleum gas (LPG) cylinders were found at the scene with both empty with their valves open, while test confirmed several samples of fire accelerant residue found in the building.

The fire quickly spread to the whole dormitory due to the liquefied petroleum gas, aided by other inflammable items within the dormitory, killings the victims in a short period of time.

"Based on the findings, the cause of incident was due to incendiary fire," he said.

The fire that killed 21 students and two teachers last Thursday was reported as the worst such tragedy in two decades in the country. Seven teenage suspects were arrested in connection with the fire.