Police officers have been dispatched to monitor the Royal University of Fine Arts’ new campus, after a group of sword-wielding youths disrupted classes last week at the National Fine Arts School located there, officials said Wednesday.
Ten district police officers have been posted at the Phnom Penh Thmei commune campus since the incident occurred inside the RUFA compound, Russei Keo district police chief Ly Lay said.
“Four police officers are on campus with teachers and students, and the others are patrolling outside,” Ly Lay said.
Late in the afternoon on Jan 10, more than 10 gang members armed with samurai-style swords, sticks, axes and stones stormed the campus to intimidate students at the National Arts School, school Director Por Tieng said.
The attack followed a verbal altercation between two students earlier in the day, he said. One of the students then reported the argument to his older brother, who led the gang members in attacking the students.
“No one dared to confront them. They are year-long gang members in the area. The students were very frightened,” Por Tieng said, adding that a teacher was injured when gang members threw stones into a classroom.
Two of the assailants were arrested on the spot and are being held at Prey Sar prison, Ly Lay said, adding that police are seeking arrest warrants for eight more teenagers.
Four police are now monitoring the campus 24 hours a day and classes have resumed as normal, he said.
