KUALA LUMPUR: The tahfiz school fire that killed 23 people in Datuk Keramat is believed to have been the work of several teenagers who had disagreement with the school students.
It is learnt that a police probe on seven teenagers arrested in connection with the incident revealed that they had used cooking gas and petrol to start the blaze.
Sources said the teenagers, aged between 12 and 18, had told police that five of the suspects were angry with the school students following a name-calling incident.
"Two of them had initially planned to break into the school to steal the students' handphones.
"When they gathered at an eatery besides a premises near the school early Thursday morning, the suspects had discussed about burning the school as revenge.
"Two of them went to buy petrol.
"About 4.30am, the boys then gathered at a field behind the tahfiz school, before three of them sneaked into the school."
Sources said the suspects, upon finding out that the hostel's door was locked, returned downstairs.
They then broke into a food kiosk nearby where they stole two cooking gas cylinders.
"Three of them then took the cylinders to the third floor of the hostel. One of them poked the cylinders' heads to release the gas.
"They then poured petrol on the staircase starting from the third floor before igniting the petrol using a lighter."
The teens then fled the scene on motorcycles.
Attempts to get official confirmation on the latest updates have yet to be fruitful, as police top guns remained tightlipped.
Kuala Lumpur police chief Datuk Amar Singh is expected to speak on the case during a press conference tonight.
*Additional reporting by MASRIWANIE MUHAMADING and HANI SHAMIRA SHARUDIN