NANCHANG - A man has been detained over his repeated threats that he would kill children in response to a salary dispute, local sources said Tuesday.

The man, surnamed Cai, sent text messages from November 2012 to March 2013 in which he threatened to "create a case that would shock the nation" or "take the lives of 19 children in exchange for 19 years of work service," according to a source with the Longnan County People's Procuratorate, Jiangxi province.

Claiming he would target kindergarten students, Cai sent the messages to a number of local officials via mobile phone.

On April 17 and 18, Cai again threatened to kill 19 kindergarten students and sent similar messages to officials and the staff of two newspapers.

To prevent the attacks, police across the county were mobilized to guard kindergartens, as well primary and middle schools, the source added.

Cai faces charges of fabricating and spreading false terrorist information.

The man is involved in an ongoing salary dispute with his work unit regarding his 19 years of employment, according to the source, who declined to give details.