A 12-year-old boy and a 19-year-old man have been arrested on suspicion of molesting and raping six teenage girls in their school dormitory, Botou city government in Hebei province confirmed on Wednesday.

The two suspects allegedly sneaked into the girls' dormitory around midnight on Sunday morning in Fuzhen No 1 Middle School, a public school in the city. They then threatened the six girls, according to the statement from the city's publicity department released on Wednesday.

The elder suspect, identified only as Dong, allegedly assaulted all the girls.

The suspects were arrested by police on Sunday afternoon. The investigation is continuing.

The principal of the middle school has been suspended, and other school officials found to be responsible for letting the crime happen will be punished, as the city government requires, the publicity department's statement said.

Fuzhen No 1 Middle School is a public school, and its only gate has two guards. But people other than students and teachers have entered without any problems before.

The local government has required that all middle and primary schools in the city improve security measures.

China Daily

(China Daily USA 05/30/2013 page4)