At least 39 people were injured in a knife attack at a Chinese kindergarten

BEIJING – A school security guard was killed and 39 others injured in a knife attack Thursday morning in a kindergarten in southern China, state media reported. The purpose is unknown.

The attack was a serious setback to the terrorist attacks on schools in China over the past year, which sparked security improvements and authorities have often blamed people with disabilities or unidentified mental illnesses.

The local government in Guangxi region of Guangxi region said 37 students and two adults suffered multiple injuries in the attack.

Chinese state media identified the attacker as a security guard under the surname of Li. They said the suspect was detained while the investigation was underway.

State broadcaster CCTV said 40 people were injured, including three, the school president, another security guard and a student.

In previous attacks, a woman was stabbed to death in Kindergarten in the western city of Chongqing in October 2018, injuring 14 children.

Almost 20 children were killed in school attacks in 2010, which prompted the response of top government officials and led many schools to add gates and security guards.

Chinese law restricts the sale and possession of firearms, and mass attacks are usually carried out with knives or homemade ammunition.