35 Killed and 43 Injured in Zhuhai Sports Center Car Attack
A devastating car attack in crowded sports center in Zhuhai, southern China's Guangdong province, left at least 35 people dead and over 40 others severely injured late Monday night.
According to the Zhuhai Public Security Bureau, a 62-year-old man drove his vehicle into the crowd of hundreds gathered at the Xiangzhou district sports center on Tuesday evening. The suspect, identified as Fan surnamed is under detention and has sustained neck injuries believed to be self-inflicted.
The attack, which occurred around 9 pm local time, was reported to have been fueled by personal grievances related to a recent divorce settlement. Authorities said that the motive behind the incident remains unclear, but police suspected that financial disagreements may have contributed to Fan's decision to carry out the horrific act.
The incident sent shockwaves across the city, with authorities scrambling to provide assistance and provide further information about the suspect and his background. Local hospitals were overwhelmed by the influx of victims, while several websites and social media platforms outside China have been sharing footage and first-hand accounts of the tragedy.
State media reported that local hospitals in Zhuhai were treating over 20 injured individuals, with the exact number likely being higher as more information comes to light.
In a response typical of the country's internet censorhip policies, Chinese social media outlets Weibo, X (formerly Twitter) and other platforms issued strict warnings against discussing the incident online, removing news articles about the attack.
The tragic event has raised mounting concerns over violent attacks targeting random individuals in China, often linked to personal grievances or financial disputes. The last few months have seen repeated violent incidents, including a mass knife attack at a school in Beijing that injured five people and a supermarket stabbing in Shanghai that resulted in three fatalities.
China's rising trend of violent attacks has left authorities under pressure to crack down on such behavior while ensuring public safety and security.
(Reported by: Xiang Chen & Lixin Wang)