China captures suspect man in school shooting

A man accused of shooting at a primary school in eastern China and injuring 16 children and two adults has been captured in Beijing, the government said Friday. Liu Shibin is accused of opening fire with six homemade guns at a schoolyard in Guangde county, Anhui province, on Wednesday as students did their morning exercises.

Liu, 33, was caught Thursday afternoon in Beijing, the official Xinhua News Agency said, citing police in Anhui.

Xinhua cited villagers who said Liu, who was single, was bitter about his childless state and was once heard to say, "I have no kids of my own, so I would kill other people's kids."

Police contacted by phone in Beijing and Guangde county said they couldn't confirm the report.

China has suffered a series of attacks in schools over the past two years, usually involving knives, which are often blamed on personal grudges or people with psychiatric problems. At least three children have been killed in the attacks and dozens more have been injured. The central government has responded by ordering schools throughout the country to hire guards and take other steps to tighten security, reports the AP. I.L.