In the southern Chinese city of Zhuhai, a driver deliberately plowed into a crowd at a sports venue, resulting in the deaths of 35 individuals and leaving 43 others severely injured.
According to Associated Press, the incident occurred the day before a significant aviation exhibition held annually by the People's Liberation Army in Zhuhai. The arrested individual is a 62-year-old man named Fang, who was found in the vehicle with a knife and injuries to his neck.
Police reports indicate that the wounds on the suspect's neck may have been a result of a self-harm attempt. The man is currently unconscious and receiving medical treatment.
Initial investigations suggest that Fang may have committed this act due to personal difficulties, particularly stemming from a conflict over financial asset distribution during a divorce. In the first 24 hours following the attack, the number of casualties remained unclear; one local hospital reported over 20 injured, while other medical facilities in the city did not provide comments.
In Chinese social media platforms like Weibo, reports about the incident faced stringent censorship, and by Tuesday morning, search results contained only a few mentions without photographs or details. Some posts and articles from Chinese media that emerged on Monday were removed.
Outside of China, footage from the scene showing dozens of victims lying on the grounds of the sports center circulated on social media, particularly on the platform X (formerly Twitter). The video was shared by news blogger and dissident Li Ying, known on social media as Teacher Li.
The sports center in Xiangzhou District, where the incident took place, typically attracts hundreds of locals for sports and leisure activities. Following the tragic event, the center announced a temporary closure.
Similar attacks on random individuals have occurred in China before, including assaults on schoolchildren that sparked significant public concern.
Other Similar Incidents
As reported by UNIAN, earlier in the French city of Bordeaux, during street racing, a car at high speed crashed into a crowd of spectators. At least six people were injured.
The incident took place late in the evening when youth organized illegal races on the streets of Bordeaux. One of the competitors lost control on a turn, and the vehicle sped into the crowd of onlookers.