A security guard in southern China turned on the school he was meant to protect, allegedly attacking 39 people with a knife on June 4.

The incident happened at the Wangfu Town Central Primary School in the city of Wuzhou, Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, at 8:30 am and saw 37 children injured, reported SCMP.

A report released by the town government identified the alleged attacker as 50-year-old Li Xiaomin, a security guard who worked at the school.

According to NBC, local officials have described the attack as a knife-stabbing incident.

39 victims sent to hospital

None of the injuries have been reported as "life-threatening" though two adults — the school and another security guard — sustained heavy injuries.

The 37 children affected have been described as being slightly injured; all 39 victims were sent to hospital reported NBC.

According to SCMP a parent, whose child attends the school, said that many of the injured students were aged about six and from the preschool class.

Another person living nearby told SCMP that they heard loud screams coming from the school and saw students running out of the entrance.

A video posted by the Global Times showed injured children carried out of the school and a man with blood streaming down his face.

#Update: All 39 injured victims of a primary school knife attack in S.China have been sent to local hospitals for treatment, two are badly wounded. Investigation underway. https://t.co/M8hjrc2ypE pic.twitter.com/k8WAlZEgx6

— Global Times (@globaltimesnews) June 4, 2020

Li has been detained by local police for questioning and investigations are underway.

Top image screenshots from Global Times