A 16-year-old student was arrested after attacking a female teacher with an axe at an international school in Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia, on October 21, injuring her hand.The student livestreamed the incident on Facebook, with footage showing him taking an axe and a lighter from his schoolbag inside a school toilet before heading towards a classroom where the attack took place.
According to Channel NewsAsia (CNA), police received an emergency call at around 8.03am reporting that the student had brought firecrackers to the school and injured the teacher with an axe.The livestream, which lasted about 12 minutes, showed the student recording his movements before the footage became shaky during the commotion and the screen went black, although screams could still be heard.The teenager was subsequently detained and placed in the psychiatric ward of Sarawak General Hospital for further assessment, CNA reported, citing the New Straits Times.Sarawak women, children and community well-being development minister Fatimah Abdullah urged the public not to rush to condemn or shame the 16-year-old student without understanding the circumstances surrounding the attack. She stressed the need to take violence involving weapons seriously while ensuring that the teenager is treated with dignity and given appropriate guidance and support.“Accountability and compassion are not mutually exclusive,” Fatimah said, urging the public not to circulate footage of the incident or engage in speculation.
She also warned that “social media must not become a platform for public shaming or trial by public opinion”, calling for restraint while police investigate the case.Police are investigating the circumstances and motive behind the attack. The case is being investigated under Section 324 of Malaysia’s Penal Code, which concerns voluntarily causing hurt with a dangerous weapon, and Section 6(1) of the Explosives Act 1957.