Swiss kindergarten knife rampage leaves three children injured

A knifeman has left three five-year-old children injured after launching a vicious attack outside their kindergarten in Switzerland, according to police.

The children were among a group who were walking to the centre in northern Zurich at around midday local time when they were suddenly attacked.

The staff member who was accompanying the youngsters and another man immediately overpowered the attacker, who has been identified as a 23-year-old Chinese national.

Armed police and emergency services swooped on the scene after being alerted to the attack, and arrested the suspect.

All of the victims were boys aged five, with one said to have suffered serious injuries in the attack and all receiving first aid from paramedics at the scene. 

Local residents in the area of Berninastrasse described seeing terrified parents running to find their children as news of the horrific events emerged. 

'I heard children screaming and then a lot of police officers arrived,' a woman at the scene told reporters.

Local outlet Blick reports that a father whose son goes to the daycare centre ducked underneath the police barrier and ran towards the door, with his friend telling a reporter that the man 'is panicking and wants to know what's going on'.

The father said after being sent back behind the police barrier: 'I don't know if my son is OK! 

'The police sent me away again. I don't know where my son is, they just told me that he is unharmed, but I can't go to him.'

'There are at least six to seven police cars on site. The ambulance is also on the square with several vehicles,' an eyewitness told local media of the major operation. 

'Shortly after twelve o'clock, the Zurich City Police were alerted to a violent crime on Berninastrasse. Three children were injured,' said the Zurich City Police in a press release.

'A suspect was arrested in connection with this. There is no longer any danger to the public.'