NANCHANG - A knife-wielding man broke into an east China middle school early Tuesday morning, stabbed two students, and fled, local government reported Wednesday.

The man, wearing a cap, gloves, and a red coat, entered the No 1 Middle School of Nanchang in East Jiangxi province at about 6:48 am when a few students had arrived early for classes, a spokesman of the Nanchang city government said.

He went to the second floor of the school's main building and attacked a first-year student, who was wounded but managed to escape after a scuffle. The man chased the girl and attacked another second-year student, a boy, on the way. The two were rushed to hospital but have since been taken out of critical care, the spokesman said.

City authorities have ordered the police to "spare no efforts" to catch the suspect, although the chase may prove difficult as the attacker's identity and motive were unknown, according to the spokesman.

Campus security was a top issue of public concern in 2010 after six school attacks occurred in just three months from March to May that year, leaving at least 17 dead and scores injured. Most of the victims were primary school or kindergarten children.

The string of violence prompted schools across the country to improve security, with a large number of security guards, surveillance systems and assistance from the police forces.