BEIJING, May 1 (Xinhuanet) -- Fifteen primary school pupils and two local peasants in the northwestern Chinese province of Guansu have been seriously injured by a man with kitchen knives.

All the injured have been taken to the local hospital and one girl underwent an emergency operation in a municipal hospital to save her right hand.

    On Thursday morning, a 28-year-old man named Yuan Zhanggen was seen hanging around the gates of the elementary school, with a cleaver in each hand. Yuan attacked two farmers at the school gate and then broke into a classroom, injuring fifteen pupils.

    He was then overpowered until the police arrived at the scene. The school has only one teacher and 34 first and second grade pupils, nearly half of whom were injured in the attack.

    The reason why the man attacked these young students is still under investigation.

(CRIENGLISH.com)