School janitor attacks students in Beijing

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00:38

‍Updated at 20:10 BJT

Head of Beijing's Xicheng District Wang Shaofeng apologized to the students and their parents for Tuesday's attack which left 20 students injured.

Wang told reporters that a total of 20 students are being treated at two hospitals but none of them have sustained life-threatening injuries.

Four of the students required surgery and three of those have been treated, the last is currently in the operating room.

Beijing's Xicheng District head Wang Shaofeng apologizes to the students and their parents for school attack in central Beijing's Xicheng District, January 8, 2019. /CGTN Photo

Wang said the district government has offered psychological care to those children to help them recover.

The district head also vowed to tighten security to ensure campus safety.

At the press briefing, a local police official confirmed the suspect is a contractor hired by the school for daily maintenance work.

Updated at 18:10 BJT

According to a preliminary investigation, a male school janitor carried out the attack with a hammer after his contract was not renewed.

The 49-year-old with the surname Jia is now in police custody and a further investigation is underway.

Police say his contract with a labor dispatch company is due to expire at the end of this month and did not get renewed.

All students injured are receiving treatment in the hospital, accompanied by their parents; none of them sustained life-threatening injuries.

CCTV Photo

Updated at 15:03 BJT

01:24

At least 20 children were injured, three critically, when the man attacked students in Beijing No. 1 Affiliated Elementary School of Xuanwu Normal School in Beijing's Xicheng District on Tuesday, according to local authorities.

The incident took place at around 11:17 a.m. local time.

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