Fatal Vehicle Attack at Chinese Stadium Claims Dozens of Lives

A vehicle assault in southern China has resulted in the deaths of at least 35 individuals, marking what is considered the most lethal known incident of public violence in the nation in decades. Authorities stated that on Monday, a man drove his car into a stadium in Zhuhai, striking multiple groups of people who were exercising on the sports track. This “serious and vicious attack” also left 45 people wounded, including both elderly individuals and children, according to local media reports. Law enforcement officials indicated that the 62-year-old driver, identified as Mr Fan, seemingly committed the act due to dissatisfaction regarding a divorce settlement. Police confirmed in a statement that he was apprehended while attempting to escape the Zhuhai Sports Center and is currently in a coma from self-inflicted injuries. This event has provoked widespread condemnation across China, with President Xi Jinping pledging “severe punishment” for the individual responsible and urging “all-out efforts” to provide care for those injured. While authorities have not yet released the identities of the deceased, mourners and members of the public commenced placing flowers and other tokens of remembrance outside the stadium on Tuesday. The location, which includes a running track, was a frequently used exercise area for local residents. Witnesses informed Chinese media that Mr Fan seemingly intentionally struck individuals with his vehicle. Mr Chen, a man interviewed by Caixin news magazine, recounted that his walking group had just finished a circuit of the stadium when a car rapidly approached them, “knocking down many people.” Another individual present at the site informed Caixin, “It drove in a loop and people were hurt in all areas of the running track.” Local police, who issued a statement on Tuesday, indicated that preliminary investigations suggested Mr Fan’s conduct was prompted by a property disagreement subsequent to his divorce. Police confirmed that he remains in a coma and, consequently, has not been interrogated. This assault could represent the most fatal instance of indiscriminate public violence in China over recent decades. Several such events have been documented this year, including a mass stabbing and firearms incident in Shandong in February that resulted in the deaths of at least 21 individuals. Chinese authorities extensively censored information regarding that particular event. By Tuesday, online reports of Monday’s attack were already facing restrictions, with multiple videos captured by witnesses at the location being taken down from Chinese social media platforms. Nevertheless, some video content continued to circulate online, depicting numerous individuals on the ground receiving aid from paramedics and onlookers. In China, it is a frequent practice for censors to promptly remove social media videos connected to prominent criminal incidents. On Tuesday, BBC journalists covering the event from the Zhuhai stadium also reported being subjected to harassment and instructed to cease filming. China has experienced a series of violent assaults targeting the public in recent months, which have been covered by local media to different extents. In October, a knife attack at a prominent school in Beijing resulted in five injuries. In September, an individual carried out a stabbing spree at a Shanghai supermarket, leading to three fatalities and several injuries. Also in September, a 10-year-old Japanese student passed away one day after being stabbed close to his school in southern China. Subsequent to Monday’s vehicle attack, the Japanese embassy issued a caution to its citizens residing in China, advising them against speaking Japanese loudly in public spaces. The event in Zhuhai occurred amidst increased security measures in the city, which is currently hosting a significant military airshow this week. The assault on Monday night transpired 40km (24 miles) from the location where the high-profile Airshow China commenced on Tuesday. China is displaying its most recent warplanes and attack drones at the exhibition, which is anticipated to be attended by top Russian defence official and former defence minister Sergei Shoigu. To enable “control,” several entry and exit points to the sports center were shut during the airshow, as stated by the center’s management on Tuesday. Additional reporting was provided by Kelly Ng.