Five people, including three children, have been injured in a rare stabbing attack near a school in Beijing on Monday, according to police reports.
The knife attack happened around 3:20 p.m. local time on Monday. The suspect, identified only as 50-year-old Tang, went on a stabbing blitz at the intersection of Wanquanzhuang Road and Wanliu Middle Road. That is near Zhongguancun No. 3 Elementary School, a well-known primary school in the upmarket Haidian district.
None of the victims of the stabbing attack sustained life-threatening injuries. The suspect has also been apprehended by police, as reported by CNN, citing statements from local police. Authorities are now conducting an investigation into the incident.
What Was the Motive Behind the Knife Attack?
The police have yet to release any motive for the crime. It is also still unclear what charges Tang will face in connection to the stabbing.
A video shared on social media showed the aftermath of the said attack, with two children lying unresponsive on the ground and a third person lying a short distance away.
The Parent Herald cannot independently verify the authenticity of the footage.
How Often Are Knife Attacks in China?
China generally has a low violent crime rate. However, it has seen a surge in the number of stabbing cases in recent years.
For instance, on Oct. 1, three people were killed, and 15 others were injured after 37-year-old Lin went on a stabbing spree at a supermarket in Shanghai's Songjiang district. A further investigation found that Lin was motivated by personal financial disputes. The attack happened on the eve of China's National Day holiday.
In September, a 44-year-old man identified as Zhong stabbed and killed a 10-year-old Japanese student near the gate of the Shenzhen Japanese School. No motive was given by the police.
In June 2023, six people were killed, and one was wounded in a knife attack outside a kindergarten in the Guangdong province. Police identified 25-year-old Wu as the suspect. Three children, two parents, and one teacher died in the attack.
In June 2020, a security guard attacked Wangfu Central Primary School in southern China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. At least 37 students aged 6 to 12 sustained mild injuries, while two teachers were also severely wounded. The attacker was later identified as Li Xiaomin, 50.
