Seven people have been killed in an explosion at a kindergarten in eastern China, with official media saying the blast was caused by "gas cylinders".
The blast, which injured another 59 people, happened near the entrance to the building in the city of Fengxian on Thursday afternoon. Local officials and state broadcaster CCCTV said seven people were killed and another 59 injured, nine who were in a critical condition.
Unverified photos purportedly from the scene and posted on social media showed children and adults lying on the ground, some bleeding.Police said the blast struck at 4.50pm local time at the Chuangxin Kindergarten in Jiangsu province. The website of the People’s Daily newspaper, the official mouthpiece of the Communist Party said it was “suspected gas cylinders exploded” at the front of the Kindergarten. Local newspaper Xiandaikuaibao had earlier said on its website that the explosion was caused by a bottle of cooking gas. Kindergartens in China have been targeted before in apparent revenge attacks carried out by people bearing grudges against their neighbours and society. China maintains tight control over firearms and most attacks are carried out using knives, axes or homemade explosives.#BREAKING At least 7 dead, 59 wounded in kindergarten explosion in Fengxian County, eastern #China's Jiangsu Province pic.twitter.com/mdK2wHG0OG
— CGTN (@CGTNOfficial) June 15, 2017
UPDATE: Footage of the moment the explosion occurred near a kindergarten in Fengxian County, Eastern China, at least 40 wounded. pic.twitter.com/nU3cH2qDdX— News_Executive (@News_Executive) June 15, 2017
