Award Banner
Award Banner

Driver rams car into crowd in southern China, killing 35

Driver rams car into crowd in southern China, killing 35
Emergency personnel work near the site of a suspected hit-and-run attack, which left several wounded, outside a sports centre, in Zhuhai, China on Nov 11, 2024, in this still image taken from a social media video.
PHOTO: Reuters

ZHUHAI, China - A driver rammed his car into a crowd at a sports centre in southern China, killing 35 people and severely injuring 43 in one of the deadliest attacks in contemporary Chinese history.

Chinese authorities took almost 24 hours to officially disclose the incident, which took place on Monday (Nov 11) night in Zhuhai, a city of about 2.5 million people in southern China near Macau.

Images and videos showing dozens of people knocked to the ground and a car fleeing from the scene, which circulated on China's major social media platforms on Monday night, were swiftly censored. Angry comments about the official delay in reporting the incident were also removed, and the Weibo messaging site censored a hashtag that mentioned the death toll.

Police said the 62-year-old driver, with the surname Fan, had been captured and was hospitalised for wounds believed to have been self-inflicted with a knife to the neck and other parts of his body. Fan had been upset about the split of assets in his divorce settlement, police added.

Candles and flowers had been laid at the scene on Tuesday evening. Around 30 people gathered around one of the gates of the sports centre, with delivery drivers on bikes stopping to add to around 20 bouquets laid in a row.

Candles and floral tributes laid outside a sports centre where a deadly hit-and-run attack took place, in Zhuhai, Guangdong province, China.

Hundreds of rescue personnel from Zhuhai city and Guangdong province were deployed to provide emergency treatment, and more than 300 healthcare workers from five hospitals worked around the clock to save lives, state media Beijing Daily reported.

The attack happened as Zhuhai captured China's attention with the People's Liberation Army's largest annual airshow, where a new stealth jet fighter is on display 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."

One Weibo user wrote: "Even in today's highly connected world, it took over 24 hours to learn about this incident."

Others expressed shock. "I don't know what to say, but I hope this kind of sickness does not spread," wrote one. The death toll "makes every pore on my body stand on end," said another.

There was no indication that the attack was related to the airshow. But it was the second such incident to occur during the Zhuhai airshow: in 2008, at least four people were killed and 20 injured when a man drove a truck into a crowded schoolyard during the airshow. Police said that attacker had been seeking revenge over a traffic dispute.

President Xi Jinping, cited by Chinese state television CCTV, ordered all-out efforts to treat the injured and demanded severe punishment for the perpetrator. The central government has dispatched a team to provide guidance on handling of the case, CCTV said.

Violent crime is rare in China due to tight security and strict gun laws. However, a rise in reports of knife attacks in large cities has drawn public attention to safety in public spaces.

The deadliest attack Reuters was able to identify in recent years in China took place in Urumqi, in China's western Xinjiang region, in 2014, in which suicide bombers killed 39 people and four of the five attackers also died.

Read Also
china
Man in Beijing stabs 5 people, including 3 minors, in knife attack

Source: Reuters

homepage

trending

trending
    SCDF works with Myanmar rescuers for 8 hours to save quake victim trapped under collapsed building
    'New, younger' PAP team vows to reclaim WP-controlled Sengkang GRC, says Lam Pin Min
    BMW crash sends tyre flying, injuring man at Jalan Kayu eatery
    'My skin is nice': Raising awareness for children with rare skin conditions
    Haidilao employee says he earns $10k a month in viral video; hotpot chain clarifies 'figure is an exception'
    'It's very in my face that I don't have family with me': Chinese Muslim convert on celebrating Hari Raya alone
    Where to find the most affordable HDB flats in popular estates in 2025 (from $250k)
    'To my best friend and soulmate, here's to forever': Desmond Ng to marry longtime girlfriend
    5 SMCs gone in GE2025: What's next and what are their MPs saying?
    New face Jackson Lam 'very good on the ground' and will be asset to Parliament, says Shanmugam
    Turning 30, Chantalle Ng to focus on self-love and enjoying life with mum Lin Meijiao
    Life after death: Guide to be launched to help parent caregivers plan for autistic children's future

Singapore

Singapore
    • 'We need some closure for now': KF Seetoh's brother's remains to be returned following Italy blast
    • Close to a million Singaporean households to receive U-Save and S&CC rebates in April
    • GE2025: Do former civil servants make good politicians? Analysts weigh in
    • Bangkok police looking for Singaporean after woman's half-naked body found in bathroom
    • Pro Bono SG to receive $3m from Ministry of Law to support free legal help services
    • SCDF sends 80-member team to aid quake-stricken Myanmar
    • What to do if you're caught in an earthquake overseas: A guide for Singaporean travellers
    • UOB rejects allegations of improper conduct made by ex-CEO of former client Yang Kee Logistics
    • Singapore Red Cross pledges $150,000 after Myanmar earthquake, public fundraising appeal to follow
    • Singapore closely monitoring situation, ready to offer assistance after Myanmar earthquake: PM Wong

Entertainment

Entertainment
    • Kim Sae-ron's family reveals text messages allegedly showing Kim Soo-hyun dated her when she was underaged
    • 'I'm falling in love with you': Super Junior's Eunhyuk charmed by Jackson Wang
    • 'How much time have I got left?' Elton John breaks down in tears
    • From widow to victim of domestic violence, Shirli Ling recounts turbulent relationships before current marital bliss
    • Chelsea Handler handed out drugs to 'everyone' at star-studded Oscars afterparty
    • Isla Fisher opens up about divorce fallout
    • 'A sex addict': Ex-wife calls Hulk Hogan out over family issues
    • Ed Sheeran always writes songs with Rihanna in mind
    • Elisabeth Moss claims unknown crew member asked to keep underwear her Handmaid's Tale character wore
    • Megan Fox gives birth to baby girl 

Lifestyle

Lifestyle
    • Tea, drums and rangoli: These stewards of culture and heritage are being honoured for preserving tradition in Singapore
    • 7 Singapore restaurants make Asia's 50 Best Restaurants 2025 list
    • RWS unveils lifestyle destination Weave, here are some brands and concept stores to expect
    • Travel platforms see surge in hotel bookings and searches in lead-up to Lady Gaga concert in Singapore
    • How to set boundaries between your kids and relatives
    • How condo kitchen preferences have changed in 2025
    • Surrey Hills Holdings terminates employment of founder Pang Gek Teng for 'wrongdoings and fraud'
    • Coming to a store near you: Double-digit coffee price hikes
    • 'Alamak', 'tapau' and 'nasi lemak' - here are some new words added to the Oxford English Dictionary
    • Malaysian entrepreneur and content creator Khairul Aming closes factory, treats staff to day out ahead of Hari Raya

Digicult

Digicult
    • A $500 wake-up call: How the Samsung Galaxy Ring made me realise my stress
    • Monster Hunter Wilds producer explains how game has remained unique and fresh over 20 years
    • Is it time to get a MacBook at a good price? The M4 MacBook Air says yes
    • China's Baidu launches 2 new AI models as industry competition heats up
    • China's top universities expand enrolment to beef up capabilities in AI, strategic areas
    • International Women's Day: Meet the Singapore women levelling up in gaming
    • US indicts slew of alleged Chinese hackers, sanctions company over spy campaign
    • Meet the women powering innovation in tech in Singapore and beyond
    • Games in March: JRPGs, co-op games and wrestling
    • Australia fines Telegram for delay in answering child abuse, terror questions

Money

Money
    • Giant deal: Malaysian company to acquire Cold Storage and Giant supermarket chains in Singapore
    • Looking to live near JB? Here are the cheapest condos by the Causeway in Woodlands
    • 7 affordable dental clinics in Singapore for scaling, polishing, and more (2025)
    • Condo resale trends for February 2025: Demand surge despite mixed price movements
    • Trump Organisation eyes multi-billion-dollar projects in Vietnam amid tariff risks
    • 5 HDB flats with good unblocked views above 1,000 sq ft
    • Trump says he may give China reduction in tariffs to get TikTok deal done
    • China frees Mintz staff in move to soothe foreign sentiment
    • Samsung Electronics says co-CEO Han Jong-hee has died of cardiac arrest
    • China promotes business potential to Apple, Pfizer and other US companies

Latest

Latest
  • South Korea, China, Japan agree to promote regional trade as Trump tariffs loom
  • Former Church of England leader says scale of abuse scandal was 'overwhelming'
  • 3 Chinese nationals missing from Ghana waters after suspected piracy kidnapping, Ghana army says
  • In disaster-stricken Myanmar, a desperate bid to rescue survivors with bare hands
  • Thai woman gives birth to baby girl amid chaos of earthquake
  • Vance accuses Denmark of not keeping Greenland safe from Russia, China
  • Prince Harry accused of bullying, harassment by charity chair
  • Myanmar quake death toll hits 1,000 as international aid starts to arrive
  • US Federal Aviation Administration to investigate close call between Delta flight and Air Force jet

In Case You Missed It

In Case You Missed It
  • Woman who publicised tips on how she evaded GST for luxury purchases fined $18k
  • Powerful quake in Southeast Asia kills several, 81 trapped in Bangkok building rubble
  • Dog dies after being skinned alive in Malaysia, animal welfare group condemns 'barbaric' act
  • Blue for seafood, red for meat: Case partners Koufu to have colour-coded price labels at 'cai fan' stalls
  • WP will campaign for 'responsible and loyal opposition' in GE2025 to earn seats in Parliament, says Pritam
  • Over $200k worth of e-vaporisers seized; 2 persons helping with investigations
  • More than 2 million Singaporeans eligible to vote in next election
  • 'Mocking rape survivor offensive and dangerous': Law Society vice-president's remarks on Wah!Banana actor's case draw outrage
  • Job ad for nun with offer of $5,000 to $11,000 monthly salary pulled after 3 days
This website is best viewed using the latest versions of web browsers.