Man takes students hostage to settle old score with ex-teacher

A man that took two junior high school students hostage at knifepoint to settle a seven-year-old grudge with his former teacher is awaiting trial from a court in Pengzhou, Sichuan province.

Police disarmed and tackled Zhang Run, who is in his 20s, after he stormed on to the campus of Zhongyuan High School in September last year while holding a metal pipe and a knife.

Students fled as Zhang screamed for his former teacher, surnamed Wen, who he claims criticized him unfairly during his time at the school for sleeping in class.

After a few minutes, Zhang seized two students at knifepoint, demanding to exchange them for Wen.

Police were soon to arrive on the scene and detained Zhang.

He later told authorities that despite suffering from hearing and learning disabilities, Wen continued to make an example of him in class. He admitted to holding a grudge, and had even studied kung fu in order to enact his vengeance.

"I am truly sorry for scaring and hurting innocent students, and I feel regretful," Zhang said.