Santiago, Chile — chairman jose antonio cast Said on Monday that his administration would tighten security measures in Chile’s schools after two incidents involving weapons and amid growing concern about school violence in the South American country.
The announcement follows a deadly attack on Friday that left one person dead and four injured. The pledge also came on the same day that another student was taken into custody while attempting to enter a school with a loaded gun.
“We have to take some measures to protect our students,” Caste said at an event at a school in the capital, Santiago. “These measures, which were strongly opposed in the past, now need to be viewed differently. Society has changed.”
Last Friday, an 18-year-old student carried out this incident. Knife attack in a school In northern Chile, a 59-year-old school inspector was murdered and four other people, including another staff member and three students, were stabbed to death.
One of the victims remains hospitalized in critical condition, while the attacker remains in custody.
The attack is considered one of the worst cases of school violence in Chile.
Casta, Chilean far-right leader took office in early March“Incidents that shock us all keep happening,” he said, referring to Monday’s incident, when a 15-year-old tried to enter a school with a loaded gun.
“Today, once again, a student was found at school with an object capable of causing harm to other children,” he said.
Kast announced that his government would try to implement “measures for greater control over access to schools”, without giving further details.
Education Minister MarÃa Paz Arzola said her office is drafting a bill that would allow teachers to inspect students’ backpacks. He also said that the government will work to accelerate the implementation of metal detectors in schools.
The teen, who was arrested by police on Monday, had tried to enter a school in the city of Curico, about 200 kilometers (125 miles) south of Santiago, with a gun and ammunition hidden in his waistband.
Major Juan Diaz Serrano of Chile’s police force told reporters, “Police arrived at the scene… They detained the minor, confiscated the weapon and they proceeded to make the arrest.” He said the student made no threats and “did not pull out a weapon to threaten any staff member or classmate.”
Although armed attacks are rare in Chile, there is a long history of activism in the country’s high schools and universities. during major social upheaval In 2011 and 2019, students took a confrontational stance against political and business elites to demand systemic reforms.
By the end of 2024, more than 30 students injured after an explosion The incident was caused by a homemade firebomb intended for use during a student protest in Santiago. In May, three students were shot and wounded during a shooting inside a school in the Bio Bio area, in what authorities described as the first school shooting in Chile.
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