In a devastating incident reported by Lianjiang city police and Chinese state-run media, a knife attack outside a kindergarten in southern China has resulted in the deaths of six individuals and left one person injured. The horrifying assault occurred in Hengshan town within Lianjiang, situated in Guangdong province, during the early hours of Monday morning, approximately at 7:40 a.m. Local authorities described the attack as an “intentional injury” in an official statement.
According to the state-run tabloid Global Times, the perpetrator wielded a knife during the attack. Police are currently in the process of confirming the identities of the victims. Eyewitnesses cited by the tabloid revealed that among those affected by the tragedy were a teacher, two parents, and three children.
Law enforcement officials swiftly apprehended the suspect, a 25-year-old man identified by the surname Wu, shortly after the incident at around 8 a.m. The case is currently under investigation, as stated in the police report.
Video footage from the scene, initially circulated online and subsequently obtained and distributed by Reuters news service, provides a glimpse into the distressing event, which unfolded outside the premises of the kindergarten. The video captures concerned residents passing by the location of the attack, where a visible sign identifies the area as a “kindergarten.” Police tape can be seen cordoning off the area as authorities respond to the tragic situation.
It is important to note that CNN cannot independently verify specific details regarding the victims or the precise method of the attack. As the situation develops, CNN has reached out to local officials for further information.
Sadly, China has faced a series of mass stabbings in recent years, with children often being the primary targets. One such incident occurred in 2020 when a knife attack at an elementary school in the southern Guangxi region resulted in injuries to 37 children. In 2022, another stabbing at a kindergarten in eastern Jiangxi province claimed the lives of three individuals.
This latest knife attack has sent shockwaves through the community, leaving the nation in mourning and emphasizing the urgent need for continued efforts to ensure the safety and well-being of citizens, particularly the most vulnerable members of society.