China's state-run media say multiple people have been injured after being struck by a car outside a primary school in the inland province of Hunan.

Xinhua News Agency and others say the incident took place in the city of Changde on Tuesday around 8 a.m. Details remain unclear, but the injured are believed to include children.

The Japanese Embassy in Beijing says none of the country's nationals are among the injured. A compact SUV was allegedly involved in the incident and its driver has reportedly been taken into custody.

Changde is about 150 kilometers northwest of the province's main city of Changsha.

China has recently seen a spate of attacks in crowded locations or public places.

On Monday last week, a car rammed into a crowd at a sport facility in Zhuhai in the southern province of Guangdong. Thirty-five people were killed.

On Saturday, a man went on a stabbing spree at a vocational school in Wuxi in the eastern province of Jiangsu, killing 8 people and injuring 17 others.

After the attack in Zhuhai, Chinese President Xi Jinping ordered officials to take firm measures to prevent such crimes.

But more attacks have occurred, increasing concerns over public security in China.