A?police manhunt is underway in Hubei Province for the axe killer of eight people, including a two-and-a-half year old baby, the Beijing Times reported today.

The search was launched yesterday after a woman surnamed Zhu, 42, and her grandson were found axed to death in their home in Suizhou City's Luoyang Town.

Police have identified Xiong Zhenlin, a waste recycling station owner, as the prime suspect in the mass killing spree.

Police found more bodies at Xiong's recycling station after the first two victims were discovered.

Two corpses were found on site at around 11a.m., three more at 3p.m. and the eighth at 7p.m..

These six victims, all in their 50s or 60s, were Xiong's employees. Police found the axe, hammer and fork that they said were used to conduct the killing.

Police said rewards of 5,000 yuan (US$730) and up to 50,000 yuan would be given to people who caught the suspect or assisted with tip-offs.

Autopsies on the victims were carried out last night.

(Shanghai Daily January 6, 2009)