An unemployed man attacked 28 young children and three adults at a nursery school in eastern China, in the third school stabbing frenzy in a month.

Five of the children were in critical condition after the attack in the city of Taixing, according to Xinhua news agency, citing officials and police.

The alleged assailant, a 47-year-old man identified as Xu Yuyuan, was detained following the incident in Jiangsu province, the report said.

The man burst into a classroom with an eight inch knife and started attacking the children, most of whom were four years old, Xinhua said. Two teachers and a security guard who tried to stop him were also hurt.

Various websites said there had been reports of up to four deaths in the morning attack, but an official with the Taixing city government said it had so far received no such information.

"The gate-keeper, teachers, and students were attacked. The injured are receiving treatment in hospital. We don't have any reports of deaths yet," said the official.

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