Man Arrested Over Firecracker Blast In Pendang

ALOR SETAR, March 23 (Bernama) -- A man has been arrested to assist in investigations into a firecracker explosion in Pendang last Friday that injured seven people.

Pendang district police chief Supt Rodzi Abu Hassan said the 21-year-old suspect was detained at about 10am today.

“The suspect confessed that he was playing with a ‘mercun bola’ along with six relatives when the firecracker became lodged in the plastic bag containing similar firecrackers, causing it to explode.

“Six victims, aged 11 to 20, who were near the scene were injured in the explosion. All victims, including the suspect, suffered injuries to their faces and bodies and received outpatient treatment at Pendang Hospital,” he said in a statement today.

Rodzi said one of the victims had been referred to Sultanah Bahiyah Hospital here for further treatment due to serious eye injuries.

“The suspect will be remanded for further investigation under Section 337 of the Penal Code. Police are urging the public to remain vigilant throughout this festive season and to closely monitor children’s activities to prevent similar incidents,” he said.

Earlier, a Facebook post featuring a photo of several injured victims, with the caption “tragedi pakar bom dari Tobiar, Pendang, Kedah..ujikaji custom mercun bola, tujuh mangsa beraya di hospital” (Tragedy of bomb experts from Tobiar, Pendang, Kedah…custom mercun bola test, seven victims celebrating Raya in hospital), went viral.

--BERNAMA