Vehicle strikes crowd outside primary school in China

A vehicle was driven into a group of individuals outside a primary school in China’s southern Hunan province, leading to concerns about multiple injuries. State media reported that “several students and adults were injured and fell to the ground,” and a number of people were admitted to hospitals. However, a subsequent police statement indicated that none of the injuries were life-threatening. The driver of the vehicle, identified as a white SUV, was apprehended by parents and school security personnel before being turned over to the police. This incident marks the third crowd attack in China within a single week, intensifying worries regarding public safety. Mr. Zhu, a parent whose child attends the school, informed the BBC that “About a dozen people were hit, some of them seriously, but luckily the ambulance came very quickly.” He recounted hearing the attack as he departed the school grounds after dropping off his eight-year-old. Mr. Zhu added, “Six or seven parents had forced the car of the person who hit others to stop. Even the security guard was knocked down. The guard is quite old, in his 70s or 80s, and couldn’t do much.” The primary school involved has been identified as Yong’an Primary School, located in Dingcheng District, Hunan province. Footage from the scene, shared on a private WeChat account, depicted some children on the ground, while others, carrying school bags, were seen running away in distress. A separate video, recorded shortly after the event, showed an enraged pedestrian striking the SUV with a snow shovel while the driver remained inside. The driver was subsequently observed exiting the opposite side of the vehicle, only to be encircled by onlookers who began assaulting him with sticks. Recent similar attacks have prompted online discussions concerning the social phenomenon described as “taking revenge on society,” which involves individuals acting upon personal grievances by targeting strangers. On Saturday, a knife attack at a vocational school in eastern China resulted in the deaths of eight people and injuries to 17 others. Police stated that the suspect was a 21-year-old former student of the school who had been scheduled to graduate this year but had failed an exam. Prior to this, on 12 November, a car attack in southern China claimed the lives of at least 35 people when a man drove into groups of individuals exercising on a sports track. Additionally, in October, a man in Shanghai killed three people and injured 15 others in a stabbing incident at a supermarket. Police records indicate 19 incidents of indiscriminate violence in China this year where the perpetrator was unknown to the victims. These attacks have led to 63 fatalities and 166 injuries. This represents a significant rise compared to previous years; for example, 2023 saw 16 deaths and 40 injuries. Although these incidents remain sporadic and uncommon, they attract considerable attention. The videos that frequently circulate on social media shortly after these events have generated public concern and fear. Lynette Ong, a distinguished professor of Chinese politics at Canada’s University of Toronto, told AFP that “These are symptoms of a society with a lot of pent-up grievances.” She added, “Some people resort to giving up. Others, if they’re angry, want to take revenge.” A decelerating economy, elevated youth unemployment, and a property crisis that has impacted savings have contributed to growing uncertainty regarding the future among the Chinese populace. Ong remarked that, given these circumstances, violent attacks represent the “negative side of the same coin.” President Xi Jinping has directed local officials to guarantee the safety and “social stability” of communities and to “strictly prevent extreme cases.” Officials are eager to demonstrate prompt action. They are concerned that a significant number of casualties within a single year might prompt scrutiny of China’s safety record, potentially increasing public alarm and deterring tourism. The Communist Party has significantly increased surveillance in recent years, and following the car attack last week in Zhuhai, additional directives have been issued to deploy local officials and community workers to help prevent unrest.