The school's headmaster told parents that the suspect had recently been sacked, while a former colleague claimed he was a janitor who failed his probation period.
Three students suffered serious injuries after being hit over the head and were rushed to a nearby hospital along with the other victims.
A number of pupils were in intensive care as they were treated for their injuries.
Police arrested a suspect after the horrifying attack which unfolded in the capital's Xicheng district just after 11am local time.
Earlier reports indicated the man was armed with a knife. The school and parents later said he was armed with a hammer.
A former school maintenance worker told the South China Morning Post the attack was carried out by a former temporary janitor at the school who was angry at not having passed his probation.
A parent claimed: “The attacker... used a hammer-like weapon to hit the children’s skulls one by one, before he was stopped by the PE teacher.”
// <\/s'+'cript>'); // --> //]]> From ICE
Tags:
news