Malaysian teen arrested after livestreaming alleged axe attack on teacher at Kuching school

Malaysian police have arrested a 16-year-old student following an alleged attack on a female teacher at a school in Kuching, Sarawak, on Wednesday (Oct 21) morning.

Closed-circuit television footage of the incident, which was circulated on various social media platforms, shows the teenager entering a classroom at around 7.50am on Wednesday and hitting a teacher with an axe before leaving.

The student then re-enters the classroom through a second door and allegedly swings the axe at students as they flee.

When the teacher tried to intervene, the teenager allegedly attempted to hit her again but was subdued by two male students, who took the axe away from him, reported South China Morning Post (SCMP).

Another video of the incident shows the teenager inside a school toilet taking items, including a lighter and an axe, out of his schoolbag. 

He appeared to have a mobile phone strapped to his head to record his movements.

According to local media reports, the video lasted approximately 12 minutes and six seconds. 

Livestreamed alleged attack 

Following the circulation of the footage online, police confirmed that the student had livestreamed the incident.

Sarawak acting police commissioner Saifullizan Ishak confirmed that a video circulating on social media was linked to the incident, reported Malay Mail.

The livestream, which reportedly showed the teenager's movements, was subsequently removed from Facebook by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission. 

On Oct 21, police said they received an emergency call at around 8am informing the Kuching district police that a student had brought firecrackers to the school and injured a teacher with an axe.

The student is reportedly being held in the psychiatric ward of a local hospital.

The school said the teacher was recovering well and had not sustained critical injuries, adding that the student is no longer enrolled at the school.

School officials said they are cooperating with the authorities.

Following the incident, three police officers have been stationed at the school, and security checks conducted on anybody entering the campus, according to SCMP. 

Sarawak's education department has also contacted the school to offer counselling to students, teachers and staff affected by the incident.

The case is under investigation.

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