The Judiciary Police are continuing their investigation into an arson attack on Friday afternoon – New Year’s Eve of all days – outside the front gate of a local middle school in the northern district by a young man who reportedly had previously suffered from a mental disorder.
According to police and local Chinese-language media reports as well as video footage by passers-by, at about 4 p.m. on Friday the 21-year-old suspect wearing a crash helmet and holding a container suddenly splashed apparently flammable liquid on the front gate of the school, after which he ignited it.
According to the video footage circulating on social media, the arson resulted in a rather huge blaze that engulfed the gate and set some of the suspect’s clothes alight, apparently injuring his hands and legs, after which he took off all his clothes except his red underpants. The attack triggered the private Xinhua School’s fire alarm and a staff member who had witnessed the incident from inside the building immediately called the authorities.
Firemen quickly extinguished the fire, while the police arrested the man at the scene. He did not try to flee or resist arrest.
Witnesses told reporters they believed that the flames reached 10 metres in height.
The principal of the middle school told local media that about 630 teachers and students were on the campus at the time of the incident, stressing that none of them were injured.
The school is located on Rua Oito do Bairro Iao Hon in a densely populated neighbourhood in the peninsula’s northern district near the Barrier Gate land border checkpoint.
A spokesperson for the Fire Services Bureau (CB) said that the bureau dispatched six fire engines and 29 firefighters to the scene. According to the spokesperson, the bureau received a call about the fire at 4:02 p.m. on Friday and managed to put out the fire at 4:05 p.m. with a fire extinguisher.
The suspect reportedly sustained second-degree burns on his left forearm, left calf and both hands. He was rushed to the public Conde de São Januário Hospital Centre for emergency treatment.
Police found traces of a thinner and some clothes at the scene. The Public Security Police (PSP) have passed the case to the Judiciary Police for follow-up investigation.
According to police and media reports, the area affected by the blaze covered about 32 square metres. The blaze damaged the school gate, lighting equipment and decorations.
A total of 20 police officers were reportedly dispatched to the scene.
The suspect, who acted alone, is a local resident, police said.
According to media reports on Saturday, the principal checked the school’s student records and suspects that he is a former student of the school who had been disenrolled a few years ago because of his mental condition.
Meanwhile, the Education and Youth Development Bureau (DSEDJ) said in a statement on Friday night that the bureau was very concerned about the suspected arson attack outside the school. The bureau immediately contacted the school and counselling services, and it also dispatched supervisors to the scene to follow-up on the case. The bureau confirmed that no students or school staff were injured in the incident. The statement underlined that the school’s teachers and students followed all the required fire alarm response procedures and were safely evacuated from the campus. The bureau pointed out that assistance would be provided to the school.
The bureau reminded the public that arson is a serious crime which can cause serious harm to others. Anyone encountering emotional issues should immediately seek professional assistance and talk to relatives or friends about their situation.
This photo taken from social media shows the arson suspect attacking Xinhua Middle School in Iao Hon district on New Year’s Eve.
