Seven schoolchildren have reportedly been killed and another 12 injured after being attacked by a knife-wielding man near their school in north-west China.

The incident occurred at around 6:10pm local time today in Mizhi County, Shaanxi Province, said a statement released by the authority of Mizhi.

The children are said to have been attacked on their way back home from school.

Pictures released by Huashang Daily apparently shows injured students being carried away and one man, thought to be the suspect, under arrest in Mizhi County, Shaanxi Province

The suspect has been under the control of the authority and the injured students are being treated, the statement said.

The statement was posted by the Mizhi Propaganda Department via Weibo, the Chinese equivalent to Twitter.

According to Huashang Daily, the alleged attack took place not far away from the gate of the Number Three Middle School of Mizhi County.

It's claimed that the suspect suddenly dashed out and waved his knife towards the passing students.

Seven children have been confirmed dead and 12 other injured after being attacked by a man

It's said that the man waved a knife towards the group of schoolchildren near their school

An insider told the Shaanxi-based newspaper that most of the victims were female students because 'male students ran more quickly'.

Pictures released by Huashang Daily shows injured students being carried by police and onlookers and one man being arrested.

The suspect has been named 28-year-old Zhao who lives in Mizhi County, according to Xinhua News Agency.

Xinhua said among the seven dead students, five were female and two were male; while among the other wounded students, nine are female and three are male.

The injured students were sent to Mizhi County Hospital, Xinkang Hospital and Mizhi Chinese Medicine Hospital for immediate treatment, stated Shaanxi Metropolitan Daily.

Mizhi County hospital issued an urgent appeal for donors with blood type AB and suggested donors go to nearby blood donor centre, stated Xinhua.

Mizhi (file photo) in Shaanxi has a population of around 230,000 and an impoverished area

The suspect of the attack in Mizhi has been named 28-year-old Zhao who lives in the county

The official outlet also reported Zhao's attack as an act of revenge.

It's said that the man had been bullied while studying at the Number Three Middle School of Mizhi County, and he was still angry about the fact.

Mizhi has a population of around 230,000 and an impoverished area, according to an earlier report by Xinhua.

County officials and paramedics are said to have attended the scene immediately.

Investigation is underway.