Student started deadly fire at Guyana school dorm after her phone was confiscated
- The disgruntled teenager has admitted to the arson attack that killed 19 children, an official says
- The suspect is under police guard at the district hospital, as the authorities seek advice on whether to charge her
The weekend school dormitory blaze that killed 19 minors in central Guyana was started by a disgruntled student angry at having her mobile phone confiscated, a government source said on Tuesday.
An official police report confirmed that “a female student is suspected of having set the devastating fire because her cellular phone was taken away”.
The official said the teenage pupil had admitted to the arson attack and was under police guard at the district hospital in the town of Mahdia.
Police are seeking advice on whether to charge her, the official said.
02:30
At least 19 children killed after suspicious fire razes dormitory in Guyana
Sunday’s inferno gutted a building housing girls aged 11 to 12 and 16 to 17.
As well as the dead, around 20 children were taken to hospital where two remain in critical condition.