At least 35 students were injured this Wednesday, five of them seriousafter explode a Molotov cocktail that they were manufacturing in an institute in Santiago, in Chilibefore participating in a rally that was going to be held outside the school.
The accident occurred when the students, between 14 and 18 years old, were preparing the device in one of the bathrooms of the Barros Arana National Boarding School (INBA)located in the center of Santiago.
The colonel of the Carabineros police force, Fernando Albornoz, explained in statements to the press that four of the students “remain at life risk with 20 to 30 percent burns to your airways”.
Later, the Minister of Health, Ximena Aguilera, updated this figure and confirmed that There are five students who are torn between life and death.
Besides, There are 17 other students who are in serious condition admitted to different hospitals in the capital.
“Due to unknown circumstances, these devices exploded, causing various burns in a large number of students who were kept inside the bathroom,” police colonel Fernando Albornoz explained.
“It is a tragedy. We have more than 30 young people who have been affected, 17 of them seriously. It is an episode that confirms what we have said many times: Molotov cocktails are weapons with destructive power (capable) of injuring, causing immeasurable damage,” said the Minister of the Interior, Carolina Tohá.
The Chilean Public Ministry opened an investigation to clarify the facts and determine whether there was participation by people outside the institute.
According to the preliminary investigations reported by the Prosecutor’s Office, there would be remains of “accelerant liquid” in the bathroom and in other areas of the premises.
“We hope that what happened will help ensure that no young person ever again considers the use of this tool (Molotov cocktail) as a possibility, whatever the protest or the cause for which they want to mobilize,” Tohá concluded.
In recent years, the students of this school have starred protests and clashes with police demanding more resources for public education.
With information from EFE and AFP.
