Police in China have detained a woman on suspicion of abusing children at a kindergarten in a case that has caused widespread anger and sparked protests at the school.
The 22-year-old woman, identified only by her surname Liu, was a teacher at RYB Education, the school at the centre of the scandal. Police did not release additional information but the investigation is ongoing, and the school announced it had fired the teacher in response to the arrest.
Last week reports emerged that toddlers at the nursery in Beijing’s Chaoyang district were molested, spiked with needles and drugged with mysterious white pills. RYB and its franchisees operate across 300 Chinese cities, according to its website, with 1,300 day care centres and nearly 500 kindergartens.
Chaoyang district authorities have launched a review of all nurseries in the area, state media reported.
But in a sign the authorities are seeking to control nationwide outrage, Chinese media have been order to stop reporting on the abuses.
“Don’t report or comment on the matter of the Red Yellow Blue New World Kindergarten in Beijing’s Chaoyang district,” said one censorship directive sent to media outlets on 24 November and leaked to China Digital Times, which regularly publishes propaganda orders.
Police also arrested another woman, also surnamed Liu, on suspicion of spreading “unconfirmed and illegal facts”, a catch-all euphemism that include everything from spreading rumours to disseminating information the authorities deem unfavourable. The 31-year-old has already expressed “deep regret”, according to a police statement.
RYB Education is listed on the New York stock exchange and describes itself as China’s largest early childhood education service provider. Shares in the company dropped more than 38% on Friday.
In response to the arrest the company said it was “deeply sorry” and added: “We must take responsibility.” RYB is cooperating with the investigation, the statement said.
