Tragedy Strikes in Zhuhai, China: Driver Rams Car Into Crowd, Killing 35 and Injuring 43 at Sports Centre
A horrifying incident unfolded late Monday evening in the southern Chinese city of Zhuhai when a driver rammed his car into a crowd of people exercising at a local sports center, killing 35 individuals and severely injuring another 43, according to police reports on Tuesday.
The 62-year-old suspect, identified only by his family name, Fan, was detained by police at the scene shortly after the attack. Authorities found Fan unconscious in the vehicle, with a knife and neck wounds believed to be self-inflicted. He is currently receiving medical care. Preliminary investigations suggest that Fan may have been motivated by frustration over a recent divorce settlement, particularly with the division of financial assets.
Information Censored on Chinese Social Media
This incident has cast a shadow over the city, which is currently hosting the annual People’s Liberation Army Airshow. For nearly 24 hours after the attack, official updates on casualties were sparse, leaving residents and media outlets scrambling for information. One local hospital, which treated over 20 victims, provided limited updates, and calls to other facilities by reporters went unanswered.
On Tuesday morning, information regarding the attack was heavily censored on Chinese social media. A search on Weibo yielded few posts, primarily vague remarks lacking images or specific details. Articles from local media covering the incident on Monday night were swiftly taken down. However, outside China’s Great Firewall, videos from the scene circulated on X (formerly Twitter), shared by dissident blogger Li Ying, known online as Teacher Li. In one video, dozens of injured individuals lay on the track as emergency responders provided aid, with one person stating, “My foot is broken,” while another scene showed a firefighter performing CPR.
Closure of Popular Sports Centre
In response to this tragedy, the popular sports center, which usually attracts hundreds of people for activities like running, football, and dancing, announced it would remain closed until further notice.
A Pattern of Violent Attacks
This shocking event is part of a troubling pattern in China, where recent attacks have targeted random groups, including children. Just last month, a 50-year-old man was detained in Beijing after allegedly injuring five children in a knife attack at a school, while in September, three people were killed in a knife assault at a Shanghai supermarket.
For now, the city of Zhuhai mourns, grappling with this senseless act of violence as it seeks justice for the victims and answers for the community.