Six people were killed and another injured in a knife attack at a kindergarten in southeast China. Among the victims are educators, parents and children.
Six people were killed and another injured in a knife attack at a kindergarten in southern China. As the state newspaper “China Daily” reported, citing the police, a 25-year-old man was arrested as a suspect after the attack on Monday.
The attack happened in the city of Lianjiang (Guangdong province). A teacher, two parents and three children were among the victims, said a spokeswoman for the Lianjiang municipal government. The identity of the victims is still being checked. The spokeswoman did not provide specific information on the identity and age of the victims.
Police speak of “deliberate attack”
A statement from the local police spoke of a “deliberate attack”. State-run China News Network reported the attack happened around 7:40 a.m. local time.
The Sanxiang Metropolis Daily published a video showing a man being pushed into a police car with his hands tied behind his back. Other videos purporting to show the crime scene were quickly removed from online networks.
Again and again attacks on schools and kindergartens
The reports sparked horror and anger on China’s social media. Internet users asked why such bloody deeds keep happening. Others called for harsh punishment for the alleged perpetrator.
Attacks on kindergarten children or students are not uncommon in China. There have been strict safety precautions in schools and kindergartens for a long time. There are guards at the entrances. Parents, relatives or other people are generally not allowed onto the school or kindergarten grounds. You can only drop off and pick up your children at the entrance.