10 Jun 2010

Acid poured on judges in China

7:32 am on 10 June 2010

Two judges and four other court officials have been injured in an acid attack sparked by a loan dispute in southern China.

Xinhua news agency said the defendants threw sulphuric acid at officials as they tried to repossess a property in Wuzhou, Guangxi province.

They were arrested after a two-hour siege. Reports said the judges could partially lose their sight.

China National Radio said the couple in Wuzhou owed 300,000 yuan ($US44,000) to six other people but were refusing to pay, so the judges ordered that their house be seized.

Xinhua reported acid was poured on officials as they were entering the building.

Last week, a man armed with a submachine gun shot and killed three judges and wounded three others in Yongzhou, Hunan province.

The BBC reports China has also seen a series of knife attacks in schools this year, which left some 17 people dead and dozens wounded.