(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});BEIJING - Seven children and a teacher were hacked to death in an attack on a kindergarten in northwest China on Wednesday, the latest in a string of assaults on schools that has stoked public alarm about the government's grip on order.
Eleven children and an adult were wounded in the attack that happened at about eight in the morning, soon after the school day started, in Nanzheng county, a rural corner of Shaanxi province, the official Xinhua news agency reported.
The killer, identified as 48-year-old Wu Huanmin, used a kitchen cleaver to kill the five boys, two girls and their teacher, Xinhua said. He reportedly returned home after the attack and committed suicide, a local official and state media reported.
A motive wasn't known, although reports indicated the assailant and the school's administrator may have known each other.
One local man, Zheng Xiulan, said the attacker had rented out the rooms for the privately run kindergarten.
"Only about two of the children in the kindergarten were not injured, but I don't know how many died in the end. There was blood everywhere", Zheng told Reuters by telephone.
"I don't know why he did it....I hadn't heard that he was mentally ill. He wasn't poor either."
Officials in Nanzheng would not comment on the attack.
'We're scared'
The slayings occurred despite a countrywide boost in security at schools, with gates and security cameras installed and additional police and guards posted at entrances.
In Hanzhong, an industrial city of nearly 4 million people in Shaanxi province where the attack occurred, about 2,000 police officers and security guards had been detailed to patrol public schools, kindergartens and surrounding areas beginning last week, according to the city government.
The rampage follows a series of stabbings at Chinese schools and universities in recent years and is sure to stoke public disquiet and demands for stricter school security after five attacks on school children in recent weeks.
Honestly, what could make you want to attack innocent children? This is terrible, and I'm sure this man suffered from a mental disease or depression. What is your take on this?
this is sick, i hate that that guy commited suicide, I would have broken every part of his body, then cut him up slowly b4 he dies because this is ****ing horrible! let him feel whats its like! >
He thought he was cutting up chicken, but couldnt see what he was doing! JK sorry again to the Chinese members, lol. Yes I agree 100% with pr3dato8 this guy is a peice of sh!t and should have died a slow and painful death.