Knife attack on children a wake-up call

It was 9:30 am, and a group of kindergarteners in Banan district, Chongqing municipality, were going to classroom after morning exercises.

It was then that a woman attacked them with a kitchen knife and wounded 14. The suspect was overpowered. The children were rushed to hospital and their condition is not yet known.

Even during wars, soldiers refrain from shooting children out of their conscience. By attacking the helpless children with a kitchen knife, the suspect, surnamed Liu, has committed one of the most heinous deeds a human being can ever imagine.

Zheng Yuanjie, a famous fairytale writer, has a famous quote that says "The ugliest violence is adults beating children". But "ugly" is too polite a word to describe the female suspect's actions here, because she has violated the bottom line of the human society. Unconfirmed reports claimed she had quarreled with her husband in the morning, but that cannot be an excuse for attacking the innocent children.

The suspect is under control and judicial process is expected to begin soon. While calling for legal penalties for her, it is also time to rethink about the security measures of kindergartens.

First, the local police said the 14 children were attacked at the gate of the kindergarten, after they finished their morning exercises. Why do the children need to do morning exercises outside the kindergarten? The law and regulation require kindergartens to operate in secure areas only. Has the kindergarten in the case failed the standards?

Second, were there enough staff members to protect the children? Were they properly trained? The local press release said they overpowered the suspect, but that came too late for the children. What they should have done is stop her before she injured the pupils.

What happened to the children in Chongqing is a wake-up call for the whole society. Protection of children should never be compromised.