Chinese authorities on Sunday executed a man convicted of attacking 29 children and three teachers with a knife last month in east China`s Jiangsu Province, the sate news agency Xinhua reported.

Xu Yuyuan, 47, was executed at 9:39 a.m. by the Intermediate People`s Court of Taizhou City. He attacked the children and teachers at Zhongxin Kindergarten in Taixing City on April 29. Four of the 32 victims were severely injured, Xinhua reported.

Xu told the court during the trial that he had lost money gambling and in business and was venting his anger against society, Xinhua said.

Xu appealed the death sentence, saying the punishment was too severe because no one died in the attack. But a higher court upheld the sentence citing Xu`s intention to kill and the attack`s brutality, Xinhua said.

The death sentence was approved by the Supreme People`s Court, Xinhua said.

A series of recent assaults has shocked the country and prompted the authorities to tighten school security across China. Police nationwide have begun a thorough inspection of schools and nurseries to close security loopholes, Xinhua said.
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