The 53-year-old man burst into the church canteen where the children were having lunch, according to district police Lieutenant Kim Sa-Yeon.

All nine children were sent to hospital and three were listed in serious condition after being stabbed in the face and neck, he said. At least one may die, he added.

The man fled the Neung Dong Church, a Christian church, in Gwangjin, a district in northwestern Seoul, but was later arrested.

Earlier reports said 10 children had been attacked.

Kim said the attacker was armed with two knives and was shouting threats as he slashed at the youngsters, aged between six and seven.

"We think we may be dealing with a mentally unstable suspect," Kim told AFP.

Yonhap news agency said 45 teachers and children were dining in the church underground premises when the attacker struck.

The agency quoted the attacker as telling police he had heard voices urging him to attack the youngesters.

"Last night I heard someone whispering in my ear 'I will kill you. If you kill many others you will be saved'," the jobless man was quoted as saying.

(China Daily September 4, 2002)