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2024 Zhuhai car attack

Coordinates: 22°16′33″N 113°31′41″E / 22.2758°N 113.5281°E / 22.2758; 113.5281
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2024 Zhuhai car attack
A view shows the car moments before it rammed into a group of people on the road outside the Zhuhai Stadium
Map
Location of Zhuhai Sports Center in Zhuhai, Guangdong, China
LocationZhuhai, Guangdong, China
Coordinates22°16′33″N 113°31′41″E / 22.2758°N 113.5281°E / 22.2758; 113.5281
Date11 November 2024
19:48 CST (UTC+08:00)
Attack type
Vehicle-ramming attack
WeaponBeijing BJ40
Deaths35
Injured44 (including the perpetrator)
MotiveDissatisfaction with the division of marital property from his divorce[1]

On 11 November 2024, a man drove his SUV into people on the exercise track at the Zhuhai Stadium sports center in Zhuhai, Guangdong, China, killing 35 and injuring 43 more.[2] The driver then attempted to commit suicide by cutting himself with a knife; he was taken into custody and sent to a hospital.[2] The man is believed to have been motivated by anger over a recent divorce settlement.[3]

Videos and coverage of the attack were censored online. Details about it were not released until the following day, a delay that drew heavy criticism on Chinese social media platforms.[3][4][1]

It is the deadliest vehicle-ramming attack in China since the May 2014 Ürümqi attack.[5][3][6]

Attack

A map of the sports center. The path the driver took through the walking track is marked in red.

There was heightened security in Zhuhai, which was to host a major civil and military airshow the next day, the China International Aviation & Aerospace Exhibition (Zhuhai Airshow).[7]

About 19:48 (GMT+8)[8] on 11 November 2024, the attacker drove an SUV at 70–80 km/h (43–50 mph) into people while around 300 of them were exercising at the Zhuhai Sports Center running track.[9][10] An eyewitness said that the driver drove in a loop on the running track, striking many people.[11]

Some victims were wearing sports uniforms of a local exercise group.[12] According to a witness, most of the victims were middle-aged or elderly people in exercise groups. There were typically six or seven groups walking at the sports complex every day, accompanied by music. The loud music may have muffled the initial sounds of the attack, leaving people little time to react.[13]

The architect who designed the fitness center told Lianhe Zaobao that vehicles are not allowed on the track, which has stone bollards and fences set up all around it. He suspected that the perpetrator drove into the area from the other side of the stadium.[14]

On 12 November, Zhuhai Police said that the attack resulted in 35 deaths and 43 injuries.[2] On 13 November, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China said that no foreign nationals were among the victims.[15][16]

Suspect

According to a police statement, the suspect was a 62-year-old divorced man with the surname Fan (Chinese: 樊).[2] He was arrested while trying to flee the scene.[6] He was found unconscious with wounds to his neck consistent with self-harm in his car and was taken to hospital for treatment.[2] Police said that Fan entered a coma after he cut himself in the neck and chest with a knife.[17][18] Early reports claimed that the attack stemmed from discontent over the financial settlement of his divorce.[10][2][1] Journalists have noted China's economic downturn may be a contributing factor, suggesting relations between the trend of random attacks and the economic downturns and rising social pressures of the country.[22]

The vehicle used in the attack was a Beijing BJ40 bought from a local dealership. The BJ40 is a large off-road vehicle weighing about 2 tonnes and worth around CNY 200,000 (US$31,000). Fan purchased the car with a loan a week before the attack and picked it up on 10 November, the day before the attack.[23]

Aftermath

West gate of the stadium on the day after the attack
Mourners at the west gate of Zhuhai Sports Center the day after the attack

Shortly after the attack, many local residents went to hospitals and blood banks to donate blood, forming long queues overnight.[24][25][26]

A makeshift memorial was created at the location of the attack, but Chinese authorities quickly began removing wreaths, candles, and alcohol placed there, while cordoning off access to a makeshift vigil area.[3] The police at the location told visitors that there were "hostile foreign forces with malicious intentions," according to the South China Morning Post.[9]

Local officials including the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) Committee Secretary and mayor arrived at the scene to oversee the rescue operations and establish a task force to expedite medical treatment for the injured, investigate the attack, and support the victims' families. The Zhuhai Sports Center issued a notice at around 9 p.m. on 11 November, announcing the immediate suspension of operations.[27] General Secretary of the CCP, Xi Jinping, along with Premier Li Qiang, issued directives on the evening of 12 November, calling for all efforts to treat the injured, severe punishment of the perpetrator according to the law, and measures to mitigate societal risks.[28] Huang Kunming, CCP Politburo member and CCP Secretary of Guangdong, held a series of video conferences following the attack, including a special session of the Guangdong Provincial Committee for Building a Safe Guangdong.[29][30]

On 12 November, Japan's embassy in China warned its nationals about personal security issues in China, advising Japanese people not to speak Japanese loudly in public.[11] Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi expressed condolences and sympathy for the victims and families, and stated that no Japanese citizens were among the victims according to current reports.[31]

Censorship by Chinese authorities

Further information: Censorship in China and Internet censorship in China

Searches for the attack and what happened were originally censored.[1] During the first hours after the attack, Chinese media outlets were told not to report on the issue.[32] Articles and posts including images and videos of the events on the day of the attack were censored during the first 24 hours after the attack. Since the attack happened only one day before the opening of the Zhuhai Airshow, these actions caused more tensions on Chinese social media platforms, with people being angered by the delay of details regarding the attack.[3] A hashtag mentioning the death toll was censored on Weibo, a Chinese microblogging site.[32]

On the morning of 12 November, Weibo only had vague posts indicating that something had happened in Zhuhai.[1] Meanwhile, videos spread over X outside Mainland China.[1][4] Teacher Li Is Not Your Teacher posted a video on X of several people lying on the ground and a woman yelling in pain while a firefighter rendered aid to a victim.[33]

On 12 November, BBC News journalists including Stephen McDonell were interrupted and pushed during their live coverage by suspected CCP officials masquerading as locals to prevent coverage.[34] A TBS Television reporter tweeted that he was surrounded by people when reporting before being brought to the police, who asked him to delete all his material.[35] Local officials stayed outside the intensive care units where injured victims were taken after the attack and prevented journalists from speaking with family members.[36]

A researcher on Chinese censorship from Hong Kong Baptist University said that the information control on incidents with high death tolls is normal for China. She believed that the reason was to reduce panic and the likelihood of copycat crimes.[3]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Huizhong, Wu; Ng, Han Guan (11 November 2024). "Driver rams his car into crowd in China, killing 35. Police say he was upset about his divorce". Associated Press. Retrieved 12 November 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d e f "Dozens killed in Zhuhai, China, by driver who rammed car into crowd ahead of military expo, police say". CBS News. Bangkok. 12 November 2024. Retrieved 12 November 2024.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g Kirton, David; Chan, Nicoco (12 November 2024). "Zhuhai car attack: China clears memorial as government scrambles to respond". Reuters. Retrieved 12 November 2024.
  4. ^ a b Kirton, David (12 November 2024). "Zhuhai car attack kills 35 as driver rams into crowd in southern China". Reuters. Retrieved 12 November 2024.
  5. ^ a b Wong, Foster; Xiao, Josh (12 November 2024). "Driver Kills 35 in China's Deadliest Attack in at Least a Decade". MSN. Bloomberg News. Retrieved 13 November 2024.
  6. ^ a b Gan, Nectar; Deng, Shawn; Danaher, Caitlin (13 November 2024). "35 killed after driver plows car into crowds at sports center in China's deadliest known attack in a decade". CNN. Archived from the original on 13 November 2024. Retrieved 14 November 2024.
  7. ^ Gan, Nectar (12 November 2024). "35 killed after car plows into crowds outside sports center in Chinese city, police say". CNN. Retrieved 12 November 2024.
  8. ^ Dang, Yuanyue (12 November 2024). "35 dead after car attack in Chinese city of Zhuhai, suspect arrested, police say". South China Morning Post. Archived from the original on 12 November 2024. Retrieved 12 November 2024.
  9. ^ a b Dang, Yuanyue; Zhang, Phoebe; Wang, Amber; Wong, Hayley (14 November 2024). "Zhuhai car attack victims heard sound 'like earthquake' but had no time to escape: Witness". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 14 November 2024.
  10. ^ a b Alund, Natalie Neysa (12 November 2024). "Driver rams SUV into crowd exercising in Zhuhai, China leaving 35 dead, dozens injured". USA Today. Retrieved 13 November 2024.
  11. ^ a b McDonell, Stephen; Mao, Frances (13 November 2024). "Zhuhai: Dozens killed in car rampage through Chinese stadium". BBC News. Retrieved 13 November 2024.
  12. ^ "越野車來回撞 珠海體園10死百傷 62歲男司機被捕 部分傷者屬長者健步團 – 20241112 – 中國" [An off-road vehicle crashed into the Zhuhai Sports Park, killing 10 and injuring hundreds. A 62-year-old male driver was arrested. Some of the injured were members of an elderly walking group.]. Ming Pao (in Chinese (Hong Kong)). 12 November 2024. Archived from the original on 12 November 2024. Retrieved 13 November 2024.
  13. ^ 林, 煇智 (13 November 2024). "珠海致命撞车事件目击者: 受害者大多数是中老年人" [Eyewitnesses of fatal car crash in Zhuhai: Most of the victims were middle-aged and elderly people]. Lianhe Zaobao (in Chinese (Singapore)). Archived from the original on 13 November 2024. Retrieved 13 November 2024.
  14. ^ 林, 煇智; 黎, 康 (13 November 2024). "珠海越野车撞人35死43伤 学者: 官方如何化解社会戾气至关重要" [An off-road vehicle hit 35 people in Zhuhai, killing 35 and injuring 43. Scholar: How officials resolve social violence is crucial]. Lianhe Zaobao (in Chinese (Singapore)). Archived from the original on 13 November 2024. Retrieved 14 November 2024.
  15. ^ Jett, Jennifer; Austin, Henry (13 November 2024). "China removes memorials and censors online outrage after deadly car attack". NBC News. Retrieved 13 November 2024.
  16. ^ "China snuffs out memorials to victims of deadly car rampage". The Straits Times. 13 November 2024. Retrieved 14 November 2024.
  17. ^ "At least 35 killed in China car ramming". Al Jazeera. 12 November 2024. Retrieved 12 November 2024.
  18. ^ "China removes memorials to car ramming attack victims amid public outrage". Al Jazeera. 13 November 2024. Retrieved 14 November 2024.
  19. ^ "中国の車暴走事件 日本大使館が滞在の日本人に注意呼びかけ" [Runaway car incident in China: Japanese embassy warns Japanese residents to be careful]. NHK (in Japanese). 12 November 2024. Retrieved 12 November 2024.
  20. ^ 乾, 朗 (12 November 2024). "越野车冲撞珠海民众35人死亡43人受伤 社媒视频被急删" [Off-road vehicle crashes into people in Zhuhai, 35 killed, 43 injured, social media video has been deleted]. Radio Free Asia (in Chinese (China)). Retrieved 13 November 2024.
  21. ^ "中國報復社會暴力事件頻生 官方披露少真相難知" [Violence in retaliation against society in China is frequent, with few official disclosures and it is difficult to know the truth]. Central News Agency (in Chinese (Taiwan)). 13 November 2024. Retrieved 13 November 2024.
  22. ^ [19][20][21][5][3]
  23. ^ 林, 煇智 (13 November 2024). "珠海撞人案涉事越野车宽近两米 嫌犯事发前一天提车" [The off-road vehicle involved in the Zhuhai collision case was nearly two meters wide. The suspect picked up the vehicle the day before the incident.]. Lianhe Zaobao (in Chinese (Singapore)). Retrieved 13 November 2024.
  24. ^ Lim, Joyce ZK (13 November 2024). "Residents in China's Zhuhai city reel from deadly car rampage". The Straits Times. Retrieved 13 November 2024.
  25. ^ "Outpouring of blood donations in China's Zhuhai as residents rally to help car ramming victims". CNA. 13 November 2024. Retrieved 13 November 2024.
  26. ^ 朱, 加樟 (12 November 2024). "珠海車撞人35死43傷|捐血站排長龍 大量市民自發通宵排隊捐血" [Zhuhai car hit 35 people, killed 43 and injured Long queues at blood donation stations, a large number of citizens spontaneously queued up all night to donate blood]. HK01 (in Chinese (Hong Kong)). Retrieved 13 November 2024.
  27. ^ "珠海市体育中心即刻起暂停开放" [Zhuhai Sports Center will be temporarily closed with immediate effect] (in Chinese). Zhuhai Stadium. 11 November 2024. Retrieved 12 November 2024.
  28. ^ "习近平对广东珠海市驾车冲撞行人案件作出重要指示" [Xi Jinping issued important instructions on the case of driving into pedestrians in Zhuhai City, Guangdong Province]. Xinhua News Agency (in Chinese). 12 November 2024. Retrieved 12 November 2024.
  29. ^ 张, 文单; 应, 立枫 (12 November 2024). "广东召开会议传达学习习近平总书记对珠海市驾车冲撞行人案件作出的重要指示精神: 全力以赴做好伤员救治和调查处置工作, 举一反三开展问题排查整治" [Guangdong held a meeting to convey and study the important instructions given by General Secretary Xi Jinping on the case of driving into pedestrians in Zhuhai City: go all out to treat the injured, investigate and deal with them, and draw inferences from one example to carry out problem investigation and rectification]. Southern+ (in Chinese).
  30. ^ 李, 森 (13 November 2024). "市委常委会召开会议 认真传达学习习近平总书记对珠海市驾车冲撞行人案件作出的重要指示精神" [The Standing Committee of the Municipal Party Committee convened a meeting to earnestly convey and study the spirit of the important instructions given by General Secretary Xi Jinping on the case of driving into pedestrians in Zhuhai City]. Zhuhai Daily (in Chinese).
  31. ^ 中国 車が暴走 35人死亡43人けが 現場で住民が花を手向け追悼 [China: 35 people killed and 43 injured when car runs out of control; residents lay flowers and mourn at scene]. NHK (in Japanese). 13 November 2024. Archived from the original on 13 November 2024. Retrieved 13 November 2024.
  32. ^ a b Ng, Kelly (13 November 2024). "'Taking revenge on society': Deadly car attack sparks questions in China". BBC News. Retrieved 13 November 2024.
  33. ^ Hawkins, Amy (12 November 2024). "Dozens killed in China after car driven into sports centre". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 12 November 2024.
  34. ^ McDonell, Stephen (12 November 2024). "When horror hits China, the first instinct is shut it down". BBC News. Archived from the original on 12 November 2024. Retrieved 12 November 2024.
  35. ^ "TBS記者、中国で取材中「警察呼ばれ、全て素材削除させられた」 広東の車暴走死傷で" [TBS reporter reporting in China: The police were called and I had to delete all the material due to fatal car accident in Guangdong]. Sankei Shimbun (in Japanese). 13 November 2024. Retrieved 13 November 2024.
  36. ^ Wang, Vivian (13 November 2024). "After Deadly Car Rampage, Chinese Officials Try to Erase Any Hint of It". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 14 November 2024. Retrieved 14 November 2024.
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