PARENTS have been left terrified that a "killer" maniac in a balaclava mask is stalking schoolchildren in a sleepy town.
He leapt out of a car and punched three children going to school in Beccles, Suffolk, last Thursday.
The horrific assault took place around 8.15am by the Premier Store at Castle Hill.
The kids, left cowering in fear as punches rained down on them, are at SET School for 600 pupils aged 11 to 16.
Police say it was "not a random attack" and they are linking it to another incident four days earlier.
As they stepped up their hunt for the man today, parents are frightened for the safety of their children.
One mum said "It's like this maniac is deliberately targeting pupils from the school.
"I've got a child there and it's terrifying to think there is someone on the prowl out there, waiting to harm our children.
"Nobody has a clue why pupils from the school would be targets.
"Let's hope police catch him soon before a child is badly injured, or worse."
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It's not clear if the crazed attacker climbed into the passenger seat from the driver's seat, or whether there was another person driving the car.
The school's headteacher Neil Ketteringham said the attack has been "shocking" for the school and they are working closely with the police.
They added: "We are going above and beyond to ensure this by having eight to ten staff members monitoring the area before and after school."
A previous incident saw a car drive at a pupil crossing the road near the school, in an apparent bid to run him down which could have killed him.
A police spokesperson said of the attack on the three pupils "It doesn't appear to be a random assault and our investigations continue."
Suffolk county councillor Caroline Topping, who lives in the town, said "It is "totally unacceptable that young people, walking to school, should be subject to this sort of behaviour and assault."
Anyone who can help with the investigations is asked to contact Suffolk Police at 101.
The crime reference for the assault is 37/6485/23 and the crime reference for the January 30 attempted hit-and-run incident is 37/6467/23.
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