Six killed, including three children, in Chinese kindergarten stabbing
A tragic and horrific incident took place in China's Guangdong province on Monday, July 10, 2023, as a kindergarten stabbing claimed the lives of six individuals, including three children. Authorities have arrested a 25-year-old man identified as Wu in connection with the attack that occurred in Lianjiang town.
What happened?
- The attack happened on Monday at 07:40 local time (23:40 Sunday GMT), just as parents were dropping their children off for summer classes.
- The man was arrested at 08:00.
- The victims include one teacher, two parents and three students.
- One person is also injured.
- Police have called this a case of "intentional assault" but not elaborated on a possible motive.
How did people react?
- The surrounding area has been sealed off by the police.
- Videos of the attack spread across Chinese social media, sparking outrage and shock.
- The stabbings also fit in to a disturbingly familiar pattern of mass attacks targeting schools and students in China.
- The incident was the top-trending discussion on Weibo, a Twitter-like platform, with 290 million views.
Why do such attacks happen?
- Firearms are banned in China but the country has seen a spate of knife attacks in recent years.
- Violent crime has been on the rise as the economy has grown in recent decades and the gap between rich and poor has widened rapidly.
- Some experts say the Covid-19 pandemic, which forced Chinese cities to endure some of the longest and toughest lockdowns anywhere in the world, could be one reason for the apparent increase in mass stabbings.
- Other possible factors that are cited are the high stress and high expectations put on young men in Chinese society, which can lead to feelings of anger, resentment and social deprivation.
What is being done to prevent such attacks?
- Chinese authorities have been stepping up security around schools since 2010.
- Some schools have installed metal detectors, surveillance cameras and security guards.
- Some experts have also called for more research into the root causes of such violent acts and more mental health support for vulnerable groups.
Conclusion
The kindergarten stabbing in Lianjiang town is a shocking and tragic event that has left six people dead and one wounded. It is also part of a larger problem of mass violence targeting schools and students in China, which has been linked to various social and economic factors. While authorities have taken some measures to enhance security around schools, more needs to be done to address the underlying issues and provide help for those who need it.
Source:
(1) China kindergarten stabbing: Six dead in Lianjiang - BBC News. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-66151247.
(2) China kindergarten stabbing: Six dead in Lianjiang. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-66151247.
(3) China: Six killed, including three children, in kindergarten stabbing in Guangdong; suspect arrested. https://www.msn.com/en-in/news/world/china-six-killed-including-three-children-in-kindergarten-stabbing-in-guangdong-suspect-arrested/ar-AA1dEhMl.
(4) Six killed, including three children, in China kindergarten attack. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-07-10/six-killed-in-china-kindergarten-attack/102584322.
(5) China: 6 Including 3 Children Killed In Tragic Stabbing Incident At Kindergarten In Guangdong; Horrifying Visuals Surface. https://www.msn.com/en-in/news/other/china-6-including-3-children-killed-in-tragic-stabbing-incident-at-kindergarten-in-guangdong-horrifying-visuals-surface/ar-AA1dEKD6.
(6) Children among six dead in China kindergarten stabbing. https://3news.com/children-among-six-dead-in-china-kindergarten-stabbing/.
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