Man held after three children die in stabbings

CHINESE police have detained a man who stabbed three children to death after going on the rampage at a kindergarten in the east of the country, in the latest outbreak of violence directed at schools.

Police detained Fang Jiantang, 26, within hours of the attack on Tuesday in Zibo in Shandong Province, Xinhua news agency said.

Three children and four teachers were wounded. Two of the teachers were in serious condition, it said, citing a government statement.

The motive behind the attack was not known.

State media have previously reported on a string of assaults on schools earlier this year and in recent years, but authorities appear to be keeping this incident largely under wraps.

Chinese officials often prevent domestic media from reporting similar incidents for fear of provoking copycats, or when they do not wish to distract attention from more positive news. Calls to the Zibo government and police went unanswered.

A worker at the Boshan District Commercial Kindergarten in Zibo said the attack happened at the Boshan District Experimental Kindergarten.

The school website made no direct reference to any attack, but a comment appeared to obliquely mention it.

"We're so upset ... The worst thing that could have happened has happened by our very side ... The poor children!" said the comment.

More than 27 people have died and at least 80 have been injured in knife, cleaver and other attacks since March, mostly in schools, prompting worries about a social malaise as a consequence of China's rapid economic growth.