A Chinese student killed eight people in a stabbing rampage because he was angry at failing an exam and not being paid enough as an intern, according to Chinese police.

The 21-year-old was arrested at the scene of the mass stabbing, the Wuxi Vocational College of Arts and Technology in Yixing city, Jiangsu province in eastern China. Police said he had confessed to the attack that took place on Saturday evening.

According to early investigations, the suspect vented his frustrations “after failing an exam and not receiving his graduation certificate, as well as being dissatisfied with his internship compensation”, the Yixing Public Security Bureau said.

On Sunday a man laid a bouquet of chrysanthemums among the floral tributes outside the school gates.

“They were just 18, 19-year-old kids. It’s such a pity and so sad,” said the man, who gave his surname as Duan.

“We really have to give young people better psychological guidance,” he added.