There is some seriously nasty stuff happening in China in these school attacks

Seven children and one teacher have been stabbed to death and at least 11 others wounded in an attack at a kindergarten in China's northern Shaanxi province.

Wednesday's assault in the city of Hanzhong was the latest in a string of similar attacks, despite a push to boost security in and around schools across the country.
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Al Jazeera's Melissa Chan, reporting from Beijing, said news of the attack had been taken off Chinese language media websites.


Timeline: China School Attacks

"It looks like the government is trying to contain information about this, perhaps to prevent a nationwide hysteria," she said.

She said there had been no attempts by authorities to explain the recent string of attacks, but that a lot of discussions were taking place among Chinese citizens over the internet.

"A lot of people online have been talking about the possibility that there is very little recourse in China if someone has a grievance," Chan said.

"Perhaps this has become a way for somebody with a grievance to attract attention to their particular issue.

"The rule of law is a big problem in China. Going to court does not necessarily help a person in need so you might have situations where someone is making a last desperate attempt."
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Two weeks ago a farmer injured five children with a hammer in the eastern province of Shandong before fatally setting himself on fire.

The day before, a jobless man injured 29 children and three adults with a knife used to slaughter pigs in an attack at a kindergarten in neighboring Jiangsu province.

Police said the man carried out the attack out of anger over a "series of business and personal humiliations", according to Xinhua.

Authorities across China have begun to strengthen security at schools, increasing police patrols near school grounds, and boosting the monitoring of people known to be mentally ill.

Police in a western district of Beijing have distributed 200 pitchfork-like implements to schools, for use by campus security and teachers to keep any attackers at bay.