KUCHING, Oct 22 — Police have confirmed that a 16-year-old male student was livestreaming when he allegedly attacked a female teacher at an international school here yesterday morning.
According to a report by Sinar Harian, acting Sarawak Police Commissioner DCP Saifullizan Ishak confirmed that the video circulating on social media was related to the incident.
However, he said the video that was broadcast on Facebook had since been taken down by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC).
The report said a 12-minute and six-second video surfaced showing the incident from the teenager’s perspective as he allegedly carried out the attack on a female teacher.
The video has since gone viral on social media, sparking widespread concern over the incident.
In the footage, the teenager appeared to be taking items, including a lighter and an axe, out of his schoolbag while inside a school toilet.
He also appeared to have a mobile phone strapped to his head, recording his movements in the moments leading up to the alleged attack.
The footage then became shaky as the teenager ran towards a classroom, where the alleged attack took place.
The phone appeared to fall off during the ensuing commotion, causing the livestream to go black, although screams could still be heard in the background.
Apart from the livestream, several photographs purportedly showing the teenager have also gone viral, along with a separate video believed to be closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage from inside the classroom showing the alleged attack.
The circulation of the videos and photographs has drawn various reactions from netizens, with many condemning the alleged attack while others expressed shock and concern over safety in schools.
Some social media users voiced fears over the possibility of such violence occurring in a school environment, while others expressed sympathy for the teacher and those who witnessed the incident.
In a statement, Saifullizan said the Kuching District Police Headquarters received information about the incident through an emergency call at approximately 8.03am on Wednesday.
He said initial information indicated that the teenager had brought firecrackers to the school and allegedly injured the female teacher with an axe.
The victim reportedly suffered injuries to her hand.
The case is being investigated under Section 324 of the Penal Code and Section 6(1) of the Explosives Act 1957.
“Police are conducting a thorough investigation to determine the full cause of the incident and gather relevant evidence,” he said.
Saifullizan also advised the public against speculating or spreading unverified information about the incident to respect the investigation process and protect the interests of those involved. — The Borneo Post