Divorce rage sparks driver to kill over 35 in China's deadliest attack of the decade

In one of the deadliest recent attacks in China, a driver crashed his vehicle into a crowd at a sports centre in Zhuhai, a city near Macau, on Monday night, killing 35 people and injuring 43 others. According to Reuters, it took Chinese authorities nearly 24 hours to officially confirm the incident, sparking online outrage and censorship on social media platforms.

Footage of the tragic scene, showing people on the ground and the car speeding away, was shared on platforms like Weibo but quickly censored. Comments criticising the delay in public acknowledgment of the event were removed, and even hashtags related to the death toll were blocked.

Driver Arrested, Motivated by Divorce Dispute
The police identified the driver as a 62-year-old man with the last name Fan. He was taken into custody after being hospitalised for self-inflicted knife wounds, according to Reuters. Police reported that Fan’s actions were allegedly fueled by frustration over a divorce settlement and asset division.

Community Mourns

By Tuesday evening, local residents gathered at the scene to honour those affected. Around 30 people laid flowers and candles near the sports centre, while delivery drivers on bikes added bouquets in tribute.

Massive Emergency Response Deployed
Rescue teams from Zhuhai city and Guangdong province rushed to provide immediate assistance, with over 300 healthcare workers from five hospitals working around the clock, according to state media Beijing Daily.

Incident Occurs During Major Airshow

As reported by Reuters, the attack happened as Zhuhai was in the national spotlight with the People’s Liberation Army hosting its largest annual airshow. A new stealth jet fighter was showcased at the event for the first time. “I was driving nearby last night and heard sirens everywhere, I thought it was for the airshow but then I’ve never heard sirens so loud before,” said a taxi driver surnamed Guo. “Then the passenger said there’d been a hit-and-run, I didn’t realise it was so bad.”

While there is no suggestion that the attack was linked to the airshow, it marked the second instance of vehicular violence during this event. In 2008, four people died and 20 were injured when a man drove a truck into a crowd near the airshow, reportedly over a traffic dispute.

President Xi Orders Immediate Action

Chinese President Xi Jinping, speaking through CCTV, called for urgent care for the injured and strict action against the attacker. The central government has dispatched a team to oversee the handling of the case, according to the news outlet.

Public Concerns Over Safety

Although violent crime is uncommon in China due to tight security and strict gun laws, a rise in knife attacks in major cities has raised concerns about public safety.

The deadliest attack Reuters could confirm in recent years occurred in Urumqi in China’s western Xinjiang region in 2014, where suicide bombers killed 39 people and four attackers died.

Inputs from agencies