China says stabber affected by ‘doomsday rumors’

BEIJING — Officials say a man who went into a school in central China and stabbed 23 children last week was “psychologically affected” by doomsday predictions.

Min Yongjun is suspected of going into an elderly woman’s house Friday morning and stabbing her with a kitchen knife. He then allegedly went to a nearby elementary school in Chenpeng village in Guangshan county and injured the 23 children before being stopped by teachers and police.

He was arrested on suspicion of jeopardizing public security.

A statement from the Guangshan county government said Monday that police would evaluate Min’s psychological state, but that initial investigations found that he was strongly affected by “doomsday rumors.”

Some people believe the Mayan calendar predicts an apocalypse this Friday.