At Least 35 Dead and 43 Injured in Car Attack at Zhuhai Sports Centre

At least 35 people were killed and 43 others injured when a man drove his SUV into a crowd exercising at the Zhuhai Sports Centre in southern China on Monday, according to local authorities.

The driver, identified as 62-year-old Mr. Fan, crashed through a barrier in what police have described as a “serious and vicious attack.” Among the injured were many elderly individuals, teenagers, and children. Police apprehended the driver as he attempted to flee, and he is currently in a coma from self-inflicted injuries.

Reports indicate that the incident is facing censorship online in China, with BBC journalists being instructed to stop filming while covering the scene on Tuesday.

Most videos of the attack shared by witnesses were removed from Chinese social media by Tuesday morning, but some footage remained, showing numerous individuals lying on the ground while paramedics and bystanders rushed to assist.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has called for “all-out efforts” to treat the injured and emphasized the need for “severe punishment” for the attacker.

The incident occurred amid heightened security in Zhuhai, which is hosting a major international military airshow this week.

Initial investigations suggest that the attack may have been motivated by Mr. Fan’s dissatisfaction with a divorce property settlement. Due to his coma, he has not yet been questioned by police.

Stadiums in China are commonly used as exercise areas for locals. Eyewitness Mr. Chen reported that at least six groups were present for their regular walks when the attack happened.

He stated that his group had just finished their third lap when the vehicle sped towards them, “knocking down many people.”

Another eyewitness recounted, “It drove in a loop, and people were hurt in all areas of the running track—east, south, west, and north.”

The attack took place about 40 kilometers (24 miles) from the venue where Airshow China began on Tuesday, showcasing the country’s newest warplanes and attack drones.

Top Russian defense officials, including former defense minister Sergei Shoigu, are expected to attend.

To enhance security during the airshow, several entrances and exits to the sports center were closed, according to the center’s management.

China has experienced a series of violent attacks on the public in recent months. In October, a knife attack at a prominent school in Beijing injured five people, and in September, a man stabbed three individuals at a supermarket in Shanghai.

Additionally, a 10-year-old Japanese student died after being stabbed near his school in southern China in September.

In light of the car attack, Japan’s embassy has advised its nationals in China to refrain from speaking Japanese loudly in public.