20 Chinese school children wounded

A Chinese man attacked at least 20 young children at a Beijing primary school with a hammer yesterday, state television reported, in a rare act of violence in the capital.

A 49-year-old man, a former maintenance worker at the school, was detained after venting his anger on the children after his work contract was not renewed, state television cited police as saying.

Twenty were taken to hospital, the government in the Xicheng district of the capital said in a post on its social media account.

Three suffered heavy injuries but their condition was stable, it said. Police cars lined the main road close to the school when Reuters arrived at the scene.

Several police were seen coming from the school carrying items including sealed paper bags marked "physical evidence" and silver cases before driving off.

Parents waited outside for their children as the school day ended. Almost all of the parents Reuters approached declined to be interviewed.

The attacker, originally from northeastern Heilongjiang province, had been detained by police and an investigation was under way, state television said.