Tahfiz school fire: Police to probe all angles, including possible arson

Investigations into the fire at a tahfiz school which claimed the lives of 23 students and teachers here early yesterday will be carried out from all angles, including the possibility of arson, Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Mohamad Fuzi Harun said.

He said until the full forensic investigation report was available, the death of the students and teachers were classified as sudden death.

"Be patient and wait for the forensic report. We need the black and white report so that we can move to the next step further," he told reporters at Bukit Aman here today.

Mohamad Fuzi said this in response to the development of the investigation into the fire at the Darul Quran Ittifaqiyah school yesterday.

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He said the police would also record the statements from the premises owner, as well as other surviving teachers and students soon.

"This is just a normal procedure in every case and police will investigate it as soon as possible," he said.

The 5.15am fire at the Darul Quran Ittifaqiyah school yesterday claimed the lives of 21 students and 2 teachers after they were trapped in the building that had grilles on the door and windows.

Six others students sustained injuries.

Earlier, Mohamad Fuzi witnessed the handing over of duties to Datuk Seri Mohd Mokhtar Mohd Shariff as the new director of Bukit Aman Special Branch, Datuk Seri Mohmad Salleh (NCID director) and Datuk Seri Wan Ahmad Najmuddin Mohd (CID director). -- BERNAMA