Students stabbed, hurt in school altercation

‘Seniors prank day' turns violent as youngsters barged in school

Mohammed Zafan/DTNN

zafran@dt.bh 

Manama

Students were reportedly stabbed in the head with knives after a major fight broke out among students at a private school in Salmabad injuring many teenagers.

Four ambulances rushed to the school after a large group of students fought each other. A few of them were seriously injured while others sustained minor injuries. According to sources, the fight started among a group of friends and it escalated when youngsters from outside the school barged in carrying knives and other dangerous weapons. 

In recent years, this particular school has been a target for anti-government vandals. It was hit by molotovs, stones and other objects on various occasions. However, reliable sources confirmed that no political rioters were involved in the fight.  

“'Seniors prank day', a celebration of the outgoing high school students, has led to the fight. Initially it was a personal argument between two students. However, it escalated when their friends got involved in the scuffle,” sources said.  

School property was also vandalized by students, who became aggressive as the fight went on. 

"Students were just having fun on their last day at school. The day was observed as the 'Seniors prank day' and students engaged in some innocuous mischievous acts. The day is not officially recognised by the school. Only the students observe it every year," a student of the school told DT News. 

"During their pranks, an altercation broke out between two students. Their friends joined it and later about five people from outside the school barged in with weapons and stabbed three students in the head. Most students, who got injured, had nothing to do with the fight. I heard that the school principal was beaten up and the guidance counsellor pushed to the ground,” he added.  

The Ministry of Education (MOE) confirmed the incident and stated that it was investigating. "We visited the school to ensure safety of the students. We had a meeting with the officials of the school. The school management assured us that necessary steps will be taken to avoid such incidents in future," a spokesperson said.