Police caught a suspect who fled the scene of a multiple stabbing at 1:51 am on Wednesday.

Six primary school pupils, and a parent, were stabbed in the port city of Maoming, Guangdong province, on Tuesday.

Most of the victims suffered head wounds, according to China News Service.

The incident took place in the city’s Yangjiao township, Maogang district, at about 5 pm when the suspect, surnamed Liao, used a knife to attack the pupils who were going home.

All the student victims were grade one or grade two pupils from Baiwu primary school.

One student recalled the attack.

“I had to use my hands to cover my head and quickly ran into a nearby store to escape. Then I saw the suspect attack other pupils on the road,” said Su Yaomin, an 8-year-old pupil.

Liao, 32, a Baiwu villager, is said to have a history of mental illness, police said.