No fewer than 35 people were killed and 43 more injured after a car ploughed into a crowd of people exercising at a stadium in Zhuhai, China, on Monday, according to authorities.
A 62-year-old male driver, surnamed Fan, is accused of driving an SUV through a barrier and into Zhuhai Sports Centre in what local police described as a “serious and vicious attack.”.
According to Chinese media, the injured included numerous old individuals, youths, and toddlers.
Fan was detained while attempting to flee, according to authorities, and is currently in a coma due to self-inflicted wounds.
The incident occurred despite increased security in the city, which is staging a large civic and military airshow.
According to police, the ramming attack was motivated by Fan’s displeasure with the outcome of his divorce settlement.
However, because of his coma, he is unable to be questioned by authorities.
Most recordings of the incident recorded by eyewitnesses had been removed from Chinese social media by Tuesday morning, but some footage that remained online showed numerous individuals laying on the ground and being treated by paramedics and onlookers.
Mr. Chen, an eyewitness, told Chinese news magazine Caixin that at least six groups of people were gathered at the stadium for their daily walks when the incident occurred.
The groups follow a prescribed walking path around the stadium’s perimeter.
Mr. Chen stated that his group had just finished its third loop around the stadium when a car suddenly rushed towards them at high speed, “knocking down many people.”.
“It drove in a loop, and people were hurt in all areas of the running track—east, south, west, and north,” another eyewitness told Caixin.
It is unclear if the incident was related to the high-profile Airshow China, which began on Tuesday at a venue roughly 40 kilometres (24 miles) from the stadium.
China will display its latest jets and attack drones during the event, while top Russian official Sergei Shoigu is likely to attend.
Several gates and exits to the sports centre were closed during the airshow to allow for “control,” according to the centre’s administration on Tuesday.
Chinese President Xi Jinping expressed serious worry about the event, ordering officials to make every effort to treat the injured and asking for the criminal to face harsh punishment.
In response, the central government deployed a working group to assist with the incident.
In recent months, China has experienced a surge in violent attacks on the general population.
In September, a man went on a stabbing spree in a Shanghai supermarket, murdering three people and wounding many more.
That same month, a 10-year-old Japanese student was stabbed near his school in southern China and died the next day.
