Car kills 35 in Zhuhai, Beijing censors eyewitnesses
Yesterday, a 62-year-old man tried to kill himself after driving his car into a group of people who were exercising. Police report that a family-related issue trigger the incident. Party officials stress the need to help “people in hardship”. An airshow opened today in Zhuhai (Guangdong) and next month President Xi Jinping is expected to travel to Macau, near Zhuhai, for the installation of the new local government.
Zhuhai (AsiaNews/Agencies) – At least 35 people have been killed and 43 wounded after a man drove his car into a crowd. The incident, which police only reported today, took place last night outside a stadium in Zhuhai, a city in Guangdong province, southern China, where a biennial air force exhibition was set to open this morning.
Chinese authorities censored the news for hours, removing online eyewitness content and releasing only official statements by government officials.
According to Chinese media reports, the incident occurred at 7.48 pm yesterday, November 11.
A 62-year-old man, identified only by the surname Fan, crashed his SUV through the gates of a stadium (now closed until further notice), ploughing into a group of people who were exercising, the police said.
The man, who tried to commit suicide, was taken to hospital and is now in a coma. According to police investigation the attack was triggered by his resentment over a divorce property settlement.
President Xi Jinping ordered local authorities to "strictly prevent extreme cases", do everything possible to save the wounded (no one is in serious condition), and "severely punish the criminal.” Xi also asked local officials to “strengthen the prevention and control of risks and promptly resolve conflicts and disputes,” state news agency Xinhua reported.
The Nanfang Daily, the official paper of the Chinese Communist Party in Guangdong province, wrote that provincial officials met to discuss how to handle the case, stressing the need to help “people in hardship”.
Western media stressed the delay with which Chinese authorities reported the incident, especially considering that Zhuhai was getting ready to open the airshow, which was attended by several Chinese and foreign dignitaries.
The death toll was announced only today, the day after the accident; in the meantime, videos posted on Chinese social media by eyewitnesses have been deleted, including local media interviews with onlookers.
Even online searches about the incident produced results only after a certain period of time.
In the recent past, attacks by individuals have increased in China. In September, three people were killed in Shanghai, while a Japanese student was stabbed to death in Shenzhen. Two other stabbings near two schools were reported in October.
The Zhuhai attack is the most serious in terms of fatalities, and comes at a delicate time. As some have pointed out, Xi Jinping is expected to visit Macau next month, not far Zhuhai, to mark the installation of the new local government and celebrate the 25th anniversary of the city's return to China from Portugal.
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24/10/2018 13:24
20/12/2019 13:46
