Forum Views ()
Forum Replies ()
Read more with google mobile :
5 preschoolers hit with hammer in new China attack
Yahoo!
My Yahoo!
Mail
More Yahoo! Services
Account Options
New User? Sign Up
Sign In
Help
Yahoo! Search
web search
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Australia
China
India
Indonesia
Japan
Malaysia
Philippines
Thailand
Vietnam
5 preschoolers hit with hammer in new China attack
By TINI TRAN,Associated Press Writer -
Saturday, May 1
Send
IM Story
Print
BEIJING – A farmer attacked kindergarten students with a hammer, injuring five, before burning himself to death Friday in China's third such assault in as many days and prompting the government to demand stricter school security nationwide.
Wang Yonglai used a motorcycle to break down the gate of the Shangzhuang Primary School in the eastern city of Weifang and struck a teacher who tried to block him before hitting students with the hammer, the official Xinhua News Agency said.
Wang then grabbed two children before pouring gasoline over his body and setting fire to himself. Teachers were able to pull the children away to safety, but Wang died. None of the five injured students had life-threatening injuries, Xinhua said.
The attack was confirmed by an employee at the Weifang Public Security information office. But the motive for Wang's rampage was unclear. Xinhua described him only as a local farmer.
State media either ignored or played down the attack, perhaps to discourage copycat attacks as some experts have urged or to avoid overshadowing the opening of the World Expo in Shanghai, a pet project of the communist government.
Most of the recent school attacks have been blamed on people with personal grudges or mental illness _ seen as a growing problem because of feelings of social injustice and alienation in the fast-changing country.
The government on Friday issued an urgent directive to schools to tighten security nationwide. In the capital, the Beijing Education Commission ordered armed police units to patrol nursery, primary and secondary schools starting Tuesday, the first day back to school after the May Day holiday. The police will be on site when classes begin and end.
The hammer attack follows a rampage Thursday by a 47-year-old unemployed man armed with an eight-inch (20-centimeter) knife at a kindergarten. Some 29 students, aged 4 or 5 years old, were wounded, five of them seriously at the school in Taixing city in neighboring Jiangsu province.
And on Wednesday, a 33-year-old former teacher broke into a primary school in the city of Leizhou in southern Guangdong province and wounded 15 students and a teacher with a knife. The attacker had been on sick leave from another school since 2006 for mental health problems.
In all, there have been five such attacks on schools in just over a month and many more in preceding months and years _ although gun crime and other extreme violence in China is comparatively rare. Sociologists suspect the recent school rampages _ usually by lone, male attackers _ could be copycat actions.
The Education Ministry's directive Friday, posted on its website, called for schools and local education departments to "strengthen the security activities at schools to ensure the safety of students and teachers," particularly at elementary and middle schools.
It urged "concrete actions" including strictly implementing a rule already on the books to register all visitors coming to school campuses and preventing unidentified people from entering.
The order also instructed schools to work closely with police to "implement all kinds of security activities."
Calls for beefing up security at schools are nothing new. They were initially ordered by the central government in 2004 following an attack that year that left nine students dead at a Beijing school. Since 2006, schools have been required to register or inspect all visitors.
According to news reports, the latest attacks have prompted schools in various parts of the country to take action. In a district of southern Nanjing City, guards will be armed from Saturday with police batons and pepper spray. In Beijing's Xicheng district, guards at kindergarten, elementary and middle schools have been given long-handled metal restraint poles with a hook on the end. In eastern Jinan city, police posts are being built on elementary and middle schools' campuses.
In an editorial Friday, the English-language China Daily said that security should be tightened, but stressed the need to prevent attacks in the first place.
"It can be easy to put killers on trial and execute them but it is far more difficult to find out the deep-seated causes behind such horrifying acts. Our efforts should be focused on preventing these from happening," it said. "We should find out what propelled them to such extremes. What problems do they have? Could anyone have helped, especially the authorities?"
Accounts in China's state media have largely glossed over what motivates attackers, but experts say outbursts against the defenseless are frequently due to social pressures. An egalitarian society only a generation ago, China's headlong rush to prosperity has sharpened differences between the rich and poor, while the public health system has atrophied.
China likely has about 173 million adults with mental health disorders, and 158 million of them have never had professional help, according to a mental health survey in four provinces jointly done by Chinese and U.S. doctors that was published in the medical journal The Lancet in June.
Recommend
Send
IM Story
Print
Related Articles
NKorea says imprisoned American speaks to family AP - 28 minutes ago
Thai hospital evacuated after protesters barge in AP - 32 minutes ago
South Korea's Lee meets Hu; sunken ship in backdrop Reuters - 56 minutes ago
Shanghai kicks off World Expo with lavish show AFP - 1 hour 16 minutes ago
Khmer Rouge tribunal denies appeals for 3 releases AP - 1 hour 23 minutes ago
News Search
Top Stories
US economy grows 3.2% in first quarter
Spain jobless rate tops 20%, adding to debt worries
Disaster looms as oil slick reaches US coast
EU's Barroso says confident Greece will contain crisis
Flatulent orange superhero has a blast in British poll
More Top Stories »
ADVERTISEMENT
Most Popular
Most Viewed
Most Recommended
Oscar winner Bullock divorces husband, adopts a baby: People
Australia plans world-first plain cigarette packets
EU's Barroso says confident Greece will contain crisis
Lady Gaga, Bill Clinton, Lula top Time's influence list
Flatulent orange superhero has a blast in British poll
More Most Viewed »
Aliens may exist but contact would hurt: Hawking
Apple engineer loses iPhone prototype
French driving veil row escalates
Airlines want compensation as Europe's skies reopen
More Most Recommended »
Elsewhere on Yahoo!
Financial news on Yahoo! Finance
Stars and latest movies
Best travel destinations
More on Yahoo! News
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Subscribe to our news feeds
Top StoriesMy Yahoo!RSS
» More news feeds | What are news feeds?
Also on Yahoo
Answers
Groups
Mail
Messenger
Mobile
Travel
Finance
Movies
Sports
Games
» All Yahoo! Services
Site Highlights
Singapore
Full Coverage
Most Popular
Asia Entertainment
Photos
World Cup 2010
Copyright © 2010 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte. Ltd. (Co. Reg. No. 199700735D). All Rights Reserved.
Terms of Service |
Privacy Policy |
Community |
Intellectual Property Rights Policy |
Help
Other News on Friday, 30 April 2010 NATO troops raid Afghan MP's home, kill relative
Palm shares soar on HP acquisition
Iraq vote recount to start Monday; may take 3 weeks
Google wins Rosetta Stone trademark case
Clashes erupt as Greek bailout deal nears
Belgian parliament votes to ban wearing of veil
|
Apple chief makes case against Adobe Flash software
Australia plans world-first plain cigarette packets
UN to distribute 200,000 laptops to Gaza refugees
Lady Gaga, Bill Clinton, Lula top Time's influence list
US-TECH Summary
Pakistan agents believe Taliban's Mehsud is alive
|
Hugo Chavez hails successful Twitter debut
Kidnap, oil theft plague Nigeria as amnesty falters
|
Washington Post revamps online political coverage
Hezbollah leader won't confirm or deny Scud claims
|
Man stabs 28 children at kindergarten in China
Motorola smartphone sales rise
Pakistan Taliban chief said to survive US attack
Apple's Jobs criticizes Flash's "closed system"
Myanmar TV says pro-junta group registers for vote
Motorola smartphone sales rise
Panama's ex-dictator Noriega very weak: lawyer
|
SKorea ship sinking may be perfect crime for North
Myanmar aid barriers hinder cyclone recovery: HRW
France denies Noriega war prisoner status
Elders' absence hinders army goals in NW Pakistan
Oil slick to hit U.S. coast on Friday
Vietnam seeks funds to clear unexploded wartime bombs
China will undertake greater global role: Wen
Thai protest rivals want military to end 'anarchy'
Rosetta Stone suit vs Google dismissed
|
Wireless group pushes hunt for spectrum
|
Motorola posts profit, smartphone sales rise
|
French-Australian film to close Cannes festival
India's 3G auction to end this week: minister
US-ENTERTAINMENT Summary
Hugo Chavez invites Fidel, Evo to Twitter
|
Wen vows fairness for foreign, Chinese companies
Lady Gaga, Bullock named top artists in 2010
China mobile carrier Unicom's profit down 68 pct
Bad boy Colin Farrell questions word of his reform
US Navy officially ends ban on women in submarines
Seized violin to be loaned again to virtuoso: Austrian central bank
Bucharest businessmen combine cycling and chic
Slim down for promotions, Nepalese police told
A Minute With: Michael Caine on being "Harry Brown"
Moscow unveils restored Bolshoi facade
Bad boy Colin Farrell questions word of his reform
|
Lady Gaga, Bullock named top artists in 2010
|
Clinton seeks concrete action on peace from Arabs
EU's Barroso says confident Greece will contain crisis
UK's Cameron seeks to build on TV debate boost
|
US Boy Scouts issues awards for videogame mastery
Israel's Netanyahu takes on hardliners in party vote
Brown fails to woo voters in crunch British TV debate
Thai hospital near protest evacuates patients
|
Hezbollah leader won't confirm or deny Scud claims
Flatulent orange superhero has a blast in British poll
EU, China talk over how, not if, to sanction Iran
|
South Korea's Lee meets Hu; sunken ship in backdrop
|
Microsoft shelves Courier, but may re-emerge
Car bomb kills 8, wounds 20 in Baghdad
Apple iPhone prototype finder identified
More survivors return after attack on Mexico aid convoy
Shanghai shuts down financial district ahead of Expo
|
Rosetta Stone suit vs Google dismissed
Russia's Medvedev pushes high-tech project
Palm shares soar on HP acquisition
Clinton seeks concrete action on peace from Arabs
|
As US papers struggle, AP net profit falls 65%
North Korea to expel South Korean workers from resort
|
Apple chief makes case against Adobe Flash software
Japan PM renews vow to resolve U.S. base row
|
Oil from leaking well 'washes ashore' in Louisiana
Chinese reports say 5 children hurt in new attack
Navy to allow women to serve on submarines
Thai woman, Philippine man convicted in Cambodia
US Democrats unveil immigration overhaul plan
Vietnam celebrates 35th anniversary of war's end
Disaster looms as oil slick closes on US coast
Adviser slams Tonga government over ferry inquiry
U.S. Democrats unveil immigration reform plan
Chinese man burns to death after latest school attack
Trial set for U.S. parents in death of Russian boy
Report: Japan issues warrant for anti-whaling boss
Oil spill pressures White House on drilling, climate
Man burns himself in latest China school attack
Deadly school attacks in China
Japan seeks arrest of anti-whaling ship chief
Thai protesters storm major hospital in Bangkok
Japan data shows mixed signs for recovery
China Construction Bank plans big share issue
Czechs discover a new taste for speciality beers
Cuba's underground rappers test free speech
Microsoft shelves Courier, but may re-emerge
|
Samsung Q1 net profit surges to record high
Seoul shares gain on techs, Samsung Elec
"Chuck" fans plan rally support for series
Japan factory output up but jobless rate worsens
"Glee" star Agron cast in sci-fi movie "Four"
Russia's Medvedev pushes high-tech project
|
Bank of Japan keeps key rate unchanged
Stephen King's "Dark Tower" in new hands
"Nightmare" redo eyeing No. 1 box-office bow
German, U.S. films win top prizes at Tribeca festival
"Iron Man 2" opens at No. 1 in six overseas markets
Toyota sets up design quality division
Taiwan stocks log worst fall in 2 wks, track China
S.Korea may take steps on Samsung Life IPO's FX impact
Japan's central bank holds interest rates steady
Conan criticizes Leno over Tonight Show fiasco
|
German, U.S. films win top prizes at Tribeca festival
|
Nightmare a sleep-inducing retread
|
Glee star Agron cast in sci-fi movie Four
|
Chuck fans plan rally support for series
|
Lindsay Lohan defends gun photo as art
|
Iron Man 2 opens at No. 1 in six overseas markets
|
Vengeance neither sweet or funny in eco-comedy
|
Stephen King's Dark Tower in new hands
|
Oprah Winfrey network to air Rehab show
|
Spain jobless rate tops 20%, adding to debt worries
Wounded Nokia chief to face frustrated investors
Microsoft sidelines "Courier" tablet project
Disaster looms as oil slick reaches US coast
Northern Ireland police on alert ahead of British vote
|
Thai man arrested for Facebook post about monarchy
Iraq's Maliki rejects rival's call for intervention
|
Police in Azerbaijan detain dozens marking massacre
|
US-TECH Summary
Lebanon shocked by lynching of murder suspect
|
Wounded Nokia chief to face frustrated investors
Pakistan, India still have much to do on ties
|
Mauritius vote seen close, economic reforms to stay
|
Intel: Ex-Pakistan spy found dead in N. Waziristan
Outcry at Russian government's media crackdown bid
|
Indonesia police say arrested American had hashish
Thai hospital evacuated after protesters storm it
Hawaii lawmakers OK civil unions, send bill to gov
2 Ind. boys accused of killing stepdad to run away
Water dispute fuels India-Pakistan tensions
5 preschoolers hit with hammer in new China attack
Beijing limits home-buyers to one new apartment
Cambodia court rejects bail for K.Rouge leaders
China's Hu meets officials of 2 Koreas amid crisis
Thai protesters on defensive after storming hospital
Wounded Nokia chief to face frustrated investors
|
Pakistani rupee edges firmer; stocks end lower
Smartphone shipments surge
|
India bans Chinese telecom equipment
China Shenhua profit up on strong coal demand
China Construction Bank to raise up to $11 billion
Japan's recovery accelerating, central bank says
ANA quarterly losses swell amid travel slump
East Timor opposes floating gas plant
Total 's Cambodia deal needs scrutiny: watchdog
Samsung Q1 net profit surges to record high
AIG Taiwan deal could face further delay-regulator
Conan criticizes Leno over Tonight Show fiasco
|
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights