At least 35 people were killed and 43 injured in the city of Zhuhai, southern China, when a 62-year-old man allegedly drove his car into a crowded area, authorities said on Sunday.
The suspect, identified by his surname Fan, reportedly suffered self-inflicted knife wounds in his vehicle after the attack and is currently in a coma, according to police.
Zhuhai police described the incident as a “serious and vicious attack,” clarifying that while the injuries to the 43 individuals are non-life-threatening, the death toll remains high. Fan, who is under medical care, sustained injuries to his neck and other body parts, preventing immediate interrogation, law enforcement officials added.
According to an initial police investigation, the attack was allegedly motivated by the suspect’s dissatisfaction over the division of marital property following his divorce.
Authorities are working on gathering further information to confirm the motives behind this tragic incident.
Video footage verified by Reuters shows the chaotic aftermath, with at least 20 people lying on the ground and distressing cries of “terrorist” echoing as ambulances arrived to provide aid.
In response to the tragedy, Chinese President Xi Jinping ordered full-scale medical support for the injured and called for strict punishment against the assailant. The central government has also dispatched a specialized team to oversee the case proceedings, according to state broadcaster CCTV.
The attack has rattled Zhuhai, a city known for its typically low crime rate, and sparked renewed public concern over security in public spaces across China. Although violent crime is rare in the country, with strict laws on firearms, a spate of recent knife attacks has raised alarm.
In October, a knife-wielding assailant injured five people near a primary school in Beijing, while in September, a Japanese student was fatally stabbed outside his school in Shenzhen. Another knife attack in Jilin province in June left four American university teachers injured alongside a Chinese bystander.
The Zhuhai attack occurred amid the city’s hosting of China’s annual air show, where the country's new stealth fighter jet is making its debut, adding to the shock of the tragedy as the region prepared for a week of celebrations and displays of national pride.
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