A school employee has been killed and children wounded in an apparent knife attack in Vrutky in northern Slovakia.

Police said they had killed the attacker and the situation was under control.

Slovak reports said the 22-year-old man was a former pupil at the school.

Among those taken to hospital with stab wounds were two children, reports said.

The school is said to include a kindergarten, primary school and senior school.

Slovak media said the attacker had targeted the head teacher and deputy head, killing the deputy.

The head teacher and one of the children reportedly suffered stab wounds, while the other child was treated for cuts.

The man then fled the school and was later caught by police a short distance away.

A witness described hearing gunshots.

The suspect was killed and two police officers were among the wounded.

The man was a former pupil at the school, according to the aktuality.sk news website.

Initial reports that he stocked the school’s vending machine with refreshments were not confirmed by the school.