NANNING, Sept. 26 -- Four primary school students were killed in a knife attack in south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Friday morning, local authorities said.

The four kids in Pingshan town of Lingshan county were attacked by a knife-wielding middle-aged man at about 6:20 a.m. while en route to the Gupu primary school, the county public security bureau said.

Three kids died at the scene and one died later at a nearby hospital.

Police have launched a manhunt for the suspect.