Suspected arson at elite school

Some 1,000 students and teachers were evacuated from the building of a Kowloon Tong primary school after someone set fire to a towel in a men's washroom.

Nobody was injured in the incident and no arrests have been made so far.

Firemen and police officers were called to the fourth-floor men's washroom at La Salle Primary School on La Salle Road shortly past 8am yesterday when a staffer discovered a towel on fire.

Firemen discovered a can of WD-40 degreaser spray, a match and pieces of cloth at the scene. They did not rule out the possibility of students attempting to ignite a fire in the washroom.

Students returned to class in phases after the fire was put out.

The case has been classified as arson and is being investigated by Kowloon City Crime Unit.

A spokesman for the primary school said the school has activated a crisis management team and explained the situation to all students.

Earlier on August 5, three secondary four students went on trial for setting fire to a planter and the exterior wall near the entrance of their Tsing Yi school.

The students, including 18-year-old Kwan Hou-hon, a 16-year-old student and 18-year-old Cheng Tsz-kin, were charged with arson, possession of an offensive weapon and criminal damage.