China kindergarten stabbing – live: Three children among six dead in attack on Guangdong preschool
Three children were among six people killed in a knife attack at a kindergarten in China’s south-eastern province of Guangdong on Monday.
A 25-year-old man surnamed Wu has been arrested from Lianjiang, the local police said, adding they were investigating the incident.
A teacher, two parents and three students were identified as the victims of the attack that took place at 7.40am local time in the downtown area of Hengshan township, a government spokesperson said.
An unverified video making rounds on social media showed two of the victims lying in a pool of blood outside the school.
The surrounding area has been sealed for investigation, a storeowner who works near the kindergarten told BBC.
Chinese citizens took to social media platform Weibo to express shock over the mass stabbing incident. The attack was the top-trending discussion on the social media platform, with 130 million views as of 12.20pm local time.
Mass violent crimes are rare in China but there has been a spate of mass knife attacks in the country, where access to firearms is tightly regulated by the government.
Two school stabbings in 2010 prompted officials to beef up security
10:45 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
In 2010, two high-profile mass stabbings at schools – in which 15 children died in total – occurred in the span of three months, spurring Chinese government officials to step up security at schools.
At least eight elementary school students in Fujian province were killed in a knife attack in March that year, sparking fears at the time of “copycat crimes”.
Later in May, a 48-year-old man killed seven children and injured 11 others with a cleaver at a kindergarten in Shaanxi province.
However, despite the government upgrading school security after these two incidents, such attacks have continued.
Area around kindergarten cordoned off after stabbing attack
10:00 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
Man killed self and others in an attack outside kindergarten in 2017
08:28 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
Attacks on children have also thrown a spotlight on mental health, which often goes under the radar due to cultural stigma.
In 2017, a 22-year-old man set off an explosive device outside a kindergarten in Jiangsu province, killing himself and a several others while wounding dozens.
The man had a neurological disorder and had scrawled words for death on the walls of his home, according to state media.
‘It’s outrageous to do this to children who have no power at all’
07:32 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
Chinese citizens took to social media to express their shock over the stabbing attack where six people, including three children, were killed on Monday.
The incident sparked emotive debate on the Weibo social media platform. By 1.50pm local time, it was the top-trending discussion, with 290 million views.
“It’s outrageous to do this to children who have no power at all. How many families will be destroyed by this ... I support the death penalty,” one Weibo user said.
Another user questioned security at schools, especially after similar previous attacks. “Why do such cases still continue to emerge?”
Stabbing attack in China’s Guangdong province
07:28 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
Kindergarten attack shines light on China’s ‘lone wolf’ stabbings problem
06:52 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
A knife attack at a kindergarten in China today has shone a spotlight on the increasing number of such attacks that have led to 100 deaths in the past decade, according to one estimate.
While the US struggles with gun violence, China has borne witness to a rise in targeted crimes using blades and knives.
Around 100 children and adults have been killed and hundreds more injured over the past decade in apparently uncoordinated, “lone wolf” attacks, according to Reuters.
More here.
Kindergarten knife attack shines spotlight on China’s ‘lone wolf’ stabbing problem
Rise in copycat knife attacks in China
06:47 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
There has been a rise of similar stabbing attacks, targetting kindergarten schools in China, with at least one major incident reported each year since 2021.
In August last year, a 48-year-old man barged into a kindergarten in southeastern Jianxi province, killing three people and injuring another six.
Two children were killed and 16 others wounded in a similar knife attack at a kindergarten in southern China in 2021.
In October 2018, 14 children were injured in a stabbing attack at a kindergarten in Chongqing
Six killed in stabbing attack at China kindergarten
06:43 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
Six people, including three children, have been killed in a knife attack at a kindergarten in China’s Guangdong province.
The suspect, identified as a 25-year-old man surnamed Wu, has been arrested by the local police.
More here.
Six killed in stabbing attack at China kindergarten
06:25 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
Good morning and welcome to The Independent’s live blog on the latest stabbing attack in China.
