XI'AN, May 12 (Xinhua) -- A 48-year-old man killed seven children and a teacher at a kindergarten in a village in northwest China's Shaanxi Province Wednesday, and committed suicide afterwards, local authorities said.
The deadly rampage took place at about 8 a.m. at the privately-run kindergarten in Linchang Village, Shengshui Township of Nanzheng County, when villager Wu Huanmin hacked students and teachers using a kitchen cleaver, the Shaanxi Provincial Emergency Office said in a statement.
Five boys, two girls and a female teacher Wu Hongying, a villager who ran the kindergarten, were among the dead, the statement said.
In addition, 11 children and an adult were injured, and they have been rushed to hospital. Two children were reported to be in serious condition.
Wu Huanmin returned home after the killings and committed suicide, the statement said.
His motive for the attack was not immediately known.
Zhao Leji, Party chief of Shaanxi, ordered local authorities to go all out to save the injured and strengthen campus security in the province.
About 20 children went to the kindergarten, said Party chief of the Linchang Village surnamed Lin.
No further details were available.
It was the fifth such attack on school children in less than two months. The country has taken measures to boost campus security in recent weeks.
Experts have blamed pressures caused by modern society for the string of attacks.
