Armed police will patrol schools in China’s capital after a farmer attacked schoolchildren with a hammer, then burned himself to death in the third classroom assault in as many days.

A FARMER attacked children with a hammer, injuring five, before burning himself to death yesterday in China’s third such assault in as many days and prompting the government to demand stricter school security nationwide.

A farmer attacked and injured five primary school children with a hammer in eastern China today before burning himself to death in the latest in a string of horrific assaults on young students, state media reported.