54 injured in kindergarten acid attack

Fifty-four people, including 51 children, were injured after a man sprayed corrosive liquid at them in a kindergarten in Kaiyuan City, southwest China’s Yunnan Province, on Monday, Xinhua news agency reported on Tuesday.

The suspect, identified as a 23-year-old man surnamed Kong, broke into Dongcheng Kindergarten at around 3:35pm and spayed sodium hydroxide liquid at the children and teachers, police said.

The injured were sent to local hospitals for treatment. Two suffered serious burns while the rest sustained medium or minor injuries. None of the injuries are life-threatening, Xinhua said.

Kong was caught by police on a hill behind the kindergarten at around 4:10pm, the report said.

After an initial investigation, police said Kong was suicidal and wanted to vent his anger on society. He bought the chemicals online and produced the corrosive liquid himself.

Further investigation is going on.