Suspect in kindergarten attack caught in Jiangxi

A man who allegedly attacked a kindergarten in Anfu county in the city of Ji’an, Jiangxi province, was apprehended at 10:50 pm on Wednesday, according to a notice released by the Anfu public security bureau.

The suspect, Liu Xiaohui, 48, allegedly killed three people and injured six at the kindergarten at 10:22 am on Wednesday, according to the bureau. Police did not provide any information on the identities and ages of the victims.

Liu fled and hid in the mountainous areas around the village of Zhongshe in Wan’an county of Ji’an after the attack. Local authorities sent over a thousand police officers to hunt him down. He was caught on an expressway near the village. The suspect was sent to a local hospital for emergency treatment.

The Jiangxi Education Department released a notice late on Wednesday saying that campus safety management should be strengthened at all schools, especially private kindergartens, to ensure the safety and security of teachers and students.

It said campus safety risks across the province should be thoroughly inspected. Major focuses include the surrounding areas of campuses, fire safety, school bus safety and safety in student activity venues.

Disputes involving schools and students should be cautiously dealt with in case they escalate. Training institutions outside school shouldn’t open if safety equipment and security measures don’t meet requirements.

It said schools should have emergency alert systems and video monitoring systems that are linked to local public security and education departments to ensure quick responses to accidents.

The backgrounds of people with mental issues who live or work near campuses should be evaluated to ensure they pose no safety risks, the education department said.

Security guards should check people and vehicles entering or leaving schools, and prevent dangerous items such as knives being taken on campuses. Safety conditions near the school gate at peak times should be controllable, it said.