Zamboanga City:
An ex-convict stabbed nine people at a Philippines elementary school on Friday in the south of the country, killing three, before parents wrestled away his knife and stabbed him to death with it, police said.
The man killed a teacher, a fifth-grader and an elderly man who was among those who tried to grab the attacker's knife, police Superintendent Hado Edding said.
The man first barged into a room at the Talisayan Elementary School in Zamboanga City and fatally stabbed the teacher, the police official added.
He then went to another room, forced fifth grade students into a restroom and stabbed them one by one until the adults were able to stop him.
Four students and two teachers were being treated at Zamboanga's Brent Hospital, including an 11-year-old girl and one teacher in a serious condition, according to a doctor at the hospital
Police said the attacker was Fely Mateo, who had served a prison sentence for murder. Medical officials could be seen placing Mateo's dead body onto a stretcher.
Police described Mateo as mentally disturbed but it wasn't clear what prompted the attack.
One of the students, who was forced into the restroom, said Mateo threatened to kill everyone inside the school if police did not let him go.
"There was a man who went on top of the restroom he kicked the ex-convict out of the room so we were able to escape, a lot of people attacked the offender that is why we were able to survive," said Liza, a student at the elementary school.
The man killed a teacher, a fifth-grader and an elderly man who was among those who tried to grab the attacker's knife, police Superintendent Hado Edding said.
The man first barged into a room at the Talisayan Elementary School in Zamboanga City and fatally stabbed the teacher, the police official added.
He then went to another room, forced fifth grade students into a restroom and stabbed them one by one until the adults were able to stop him.
Four students and two teachers were being treated at Zamboanga's Brent Hospital, including an 11-year-old girl and one teacher in a serious condition, according to a doctor at the hospital
Police said the attacker was Fely Mateo, who had served a prison sentence for murder. Medical officials could be seen placing Mateo's dead body onto a stretcher.
Police described Mateo as mentally disturbed but it wasn't clear what prompted the attack.
One of the students, who was forced into the restroom, said Mateo threatened to kill everyone inside the school if police did not let him go.
"There was a man who went on top of the restroom he kicked the ex-convict out of the room so we were able to escape, a lot of people attacked the offender that is why we were able to survive," said Liza, a student at the elementary school.
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