Man executed for China kindergarten knife attack

CHINESE authorities have executed a man convicted of slashing 29 children and three teachers with a knife in one of a series of recent assaults on pupils at schools and kindergartens.

A string of attacks at Chinese schools has killed a total of 27 people and injured more than 80 since March, prompting calls for better protection of students and worries about the social malaise that some see under China's rapid economic growth.

Xu Yuyuan, 47, a local copyshop owner, was sentenced to death on 15 April for intentional homicide, after attacking children at a kindergarten in Taixing city in eastern Jiangsu province last month. Nobody died in Xu's attack but four of the victims were severely injured.

Chinese media have downplayed the school attacks, with Xu's execution reported on Xinhua's English service but not its Chinese service.

"Xu admitted his motive was to vent rage against society after losing money in gambling and business, while suffering other setbacks in his personal life," Xinhua reported.