KUALA LUMPUR (BERNAMA) - The students of the Darul Quran Ittifaqiyah tahfiz school in Malaysia are expected to resume classes in October in a new building.

The new school building will be located near to their temporary building which was hit by an arson attack on Thursday (Sept 14).

Its principal Mohd Zahid Mahmood said the new building is being renovated.

"We will bring in furniture and other items needed. The building will also be inspected by the Fire and Rescue Department to obtain a certificate of fitness.

"When all these processes are completed, the students will resume their studies there," he told reporters on Sunday.

He said the centre was now left with 18 students between the ages of 13 and 17 who survived the tragedy.

On Thursday, 21 students and two teachers perished in a fire at 5.15am at the religious school.

At a media conference on Saturday, Kuala Lumpur police chief Datuk Amar Singh Ishar Singh said seven youths aged 11 to 18 years were detained to help in investigations.

Amar Singh said the fire was believed to be due to arson arising from an exchange of insults between the tahfiz's students and outsiders.