Two students, aged 13 and 15, were detained on Monday night after being caught with Molotov cocktails and fireworks inside Liceo José Victorino Lastarria in the Providencia district.
The incident unfolded when hooded individuals attempted to carry out actions within the school grounds. According to reports fromLa Tercera, both students and staff attempted to stop those involved, even going so far as to spray them with fire extinguisher powder.
During the operation, school staff discovered various dangerous items in one of the restrooms. Seized items included hoods, gloves, white overalls, fireworks, and glass bottles containing wicks and flammable liquids used to manufacture incendiary devices.
Police intervention and class suspensions
Colonel Claudio Rosales, head of the Santiago Oriente Prefecture, detailed the arrival of authorities at the scene. "We received a phone call from a teacher at Liceo José Victorino Lastarria, reporting that two minors were in possession of incendiary materials, fireworks, and an overall," the official explained.
Following the report, specialized units of the Carabineros—including GOPE, OS9, and Labocar—arrived at the school. Colonel Rosales confirmed that officers verified the situation: "Carabineros arrived promptly and quickly at the school, confirming that there were indeed two minors being held inside a facility at Liceo José Victorino Lastarria with, indeed, incendiary materials, an overall, and incendiary devices."
Under current laws, the 13-year-old was deemed legally non-responsible and released to his parents. Meanwhile, the 15-year-old remains in custody pending decisions from the Prosecutor's Office.
As a result of the incident, the school administration announced the suspension of classes for grades 7 through 12 for this Tuesday, April 14. Students from kindergarten to 6th grade will attend classes as usual. Authorities are continuing their investigation to identify the other individuals involved in the unrest.