A taxi driver has been detained by local police on suspicion of killing six women passengers since July, a police source said Tuesday.

Zhou Wen, 38, a taxi driver in Anshan City of Liaoning Province, northwest China, was caught on Nov. 28 while sleeping at home.

According to his confession, since July, Zhou had slain six young women who called the taxi alone at midnight. All of them were strangled or choked to death and left in the wildness or in wells within the reach of neighborhood communities.

"I thought they were prostitutes and must die," Zhou said.

According to Anshan Public Security Bureau, Zhou kept a diary of his murders, which could help the police locate and identify each body.

"I jotted down the dates and places in case I couldn't remember them when I was caught," he said. "But I haven't thought about being caught."

The police found evidence at his home, including a silver fish that was confirmed to belong to a girl he killed.

"He is a devil homicide," said residents in Shengousi when a highly rotted body with long hair was found in the well there at around 10 a.m. on Nov. 28.

Zhou had been sent to prison twice, in 1981 for rape and in 1988 for rape and robbery.

"I began to hate women when my ex-wife aborted without my permission and I killed a woman who wanted to take revenge on her husband by having an affair with me," said the suspect. "My desire for revenge was getting stronger since then."

But he also regrets leaving his daughter and felt guilty when he learned some of the dead were not prostitutes but hotel maids.

"But it's too late," he said.

Many Anshan residents celebrated with fireworks when Zhou was captured. Several hundred taxis drivers took to the streets with national flags and logos. "Our business has been affected by the rascal for months because no one dared to take a taxi at night. We are happy to see him caught," said a taxi driver named Zhang Li.

Zhou has confessed his crimes and the case is under further investigation. The court would make the verdict soon, said the police.

(Xinhua News Agency December 3, 2003)