A Chinese court has sentenced to death a man who injured 16 children in an attack on a school in southern China last April, Xinhua news agency said.  

An intermediate court in the city of Zhanjiang in Guangdong province on Friday sentenced Chen Kangbing to death for the attack at the Hongfu Primary School.

"Chen hacked at the children and teacher in a very cruel manner, causing great harm," Xinhua quoted the court as saying in its verdict.

The assault was one of a number attacks that took place in China in a period of less than two months, leaving 17 people - including 15  children - dead and more than 80 injured.

Two of the attackers committed suicide, while two others have already been sentenced to death and executed.