Chinese police have arrested a butcher accused of hacking to death four food inspectors and seriously wounding three after they confiscated his meat, newspapers and officials said today.
It took 700 police 14 hours to catch Mr Guan Jiadong (35) who fled on a motorbike after running amok, chasing terrified inspectors down the street with a long knife in each hand and turning back at one point to hack at two injured men.
About 50 inspectors examining an open-air market in the northeastern city of Shenyang yesterday morning found Mr Guan did not have a licence for his stall and ruled his meat was not up to standard, the Liaoshen Evening Newssaid.
It quoted witnesses as saying the outraged butcher plunged into the group and struck down one inspector.
The other inspectors fled with Mr Guan chasing them down the street, hacking and stabbing at them, the witnesses said.
Police confirmed four inspectors were dead, and three others were seriously injured as Mr Guan dropped his knives and rode off on a motorbike.
"The punishment for such serious crimes is usually quick and severe," a police official said, suggesting Mr Guan would be executed if found guilty.