DStv Channel 403 Thursday, 14 November 2024

35 killed, dozens wounded in south China car ramming

ZHUHAI - A man killed 35 people and injured 43 more when he ploughed his car into those exercising around a sports centre in the southern Chinese city of Zhuhai, local police said.

The toll from the Monday incident was a dramatic increase from the initial report, when police only said that people had been injured, with videos apparently scrubbed from social media. 

A 62-year-old man surnamed Fan drove a small SUV through a gate and "forced his way into the city's sports centre, ramming people who were exercising on the internal roads", police said Tuesday. 

Preliminary investigations suggested Fan's attack had been "triggered by (his) dissatisfaction with the division of property following his divorce", their statement said.

Footage from Monday night geolocated by AFP showed people lying motionless on the ground, while others were seen frantically attempting to resuscitate the unconscious. 

An eyewitness surnamed Chen told Chinese news magazine Caixin it was common for groups to take daily walks on the dedicated track around the stadium. 

He had just completed his third lap on Monday when a car suddenly sped at them and knocked down "many people", but he was able to jump aside. 

Another eyewitness surnamed Liu told Caixin that the car "drove in a loop".

"People were hurt in all areas of the running track -- east, south, west, and north," he said. 

Fan was "controlled on the spot" as he attempted to drive away, police said Tuesday. 

He was found in his car cutting himself with a knife, and is currently in a coma after self-inflicted injuries to his neck and other parts of his body, unable to undergo interrogation, they added.

The 43 people wounded are not currently in life-threatening condition, police said. 

Chinese President Xi Jinping has urged "all-out efforts" to treat the injured and has "demanded punishing the perpetrator in accordance with the law", according to state news agency Xinhua. 

Paid Content