Iranian authorities have arrested more than 100 people in connection with the recent suspected poisoning of girl students across the country, local media reports said.

Iran’s Interior Ministry made the announcement on Saturday in its fourth statement issued about the recent events at the schools, reports IRNA news agency.

It said that more than 100 people had been identified, arrested and probed in the provinces of Tehran, Qom, Zanjan, Khuzestan, Hamedan, Fars, Gilan, West Azarbaijan, East Azarbaijan, Kordestan, and Khorasan Razavi.

“Initial inquiries show that a number of these people, out of mischief or adventurism and with the aim of shutting down classrooms and influenced by the created psychological atmosphere, have taken measures such as using harmless and smelly substances”, the statement was quoted as saying by IRNA, adding that they were cautioned while they will remain under investigation until required assurances are achieved.

Those arrested include individuals who have had “hostile motives, tried to create fear and horror among people and students, shut down schools, and create pessimism towards” the Islamic establishment, the statement by the Interior Ministry further said.

Iran recently witnessed suspected poisoning of school girls.

While Iranian politicians have suggested the girls could have been targeted by hardline Islamist groups, activists believe that the poisonings may be linked to the nationwide protests that erupted last September over the death of Mahsa Amini, reports CNN.

Several school girls have been protesting and even removing their head scarfs in classrooms since Amini died.