Police have arrested a man accused of killing nine villagers, including a child, during the Spring Festival in Baoding city, in north China's Hebei Province.

The 21-year-old man, from Tangxian county, is accused of murdering nine people and seriously injuring another on Tuesday morning when they gathered to celebrate the Spring Festival, police said.

All the victims, among whom was a five-year-old child, were related to the suspect, according to villagers close to the family. The killings were believed to have followed a family dispute.

Police arrested the suspect on Wednesday afternoon after a 12-hour search for the suspect on a hill.

Police said the investigation was underway, and further details were not available.

(Xinhua News Agency February 15, 2008)