35 killed, 43 injured as car rams into crowd in China’s Zhuhai

The incident took place around 7:48 pm Monday, when citizens were exercising. The local police revealed the incident details on Tuesday…reports Asian Lite News

A total of 35 people were killed and another 43 injured after a car ramming incident at a sports centre in the city of Zhuhai, south China’s Guangdong Province, on Monday, the city’s public security bureau said Tuesday.

The incident took place around 7:48 pm Monday, when citizens were exercising. The local police revealed the incident details on Tuesday.

The 62-year-old suspect, a divorced man surnamed Fan, was quickly brought under control by the police as he was fleeing the scene, the bureau said.

Responding officers found Fan in his vehicle attempting to self-harm with a knife. They swiftly intervened and sent him to the hospital, Xinhua news agency reported.

Fan is still receiving medical treatment as he was unconscious due to severe injuries to his neck and other areas, and is not yet fit to be questioned by the police.

A preliminary investigation indicates that Fan’s actions stemmed from his dissatisfaction with the property division outcome of his divorce, according to the police.

The police authorities have filed a case to investigate Fan on suspicion of endangering public safety by dangerous means and have placed him under criminal detention.

Further investigation into the case and medical treatment for the injured are underway.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has urged all-out efforts to treat those who were injured in the incident.

In an instruction on the case, Xi, also General Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, demanded the perpetrator be severely punished according to the law.

Xi urged all localities and relevant authorities to draw lessons from the case, and to strengthen their prevention and control of risks at the source.

He also emphasised the importance of resolving disputes in time, preventing the occurrence of extreme cases, and making every effort to safeguard the security of people’s lives and social stability.

Chinese Premier Li Qiang has called for appropriately handling the aftermath of the incident, swiftly investigating into the case and severely punishing the perpetrator in accordance with the law, Xinhua news agency reported.

Li, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, urged coordinated risk prevention and control efforts to ensure social stability.

Following Xi’s instruction, China’s central authorities have dispatched a team to oversee the handling of the case.

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