A devastating attack in Zhuhai, China left 35 people dead and 43 injured after an SUV rammed into a crowd outside a stadium on Monday.

The driver, a 62-year-old man identified as Fan, reportedly drove into walkers at the Zhuhai Sports Centre in what police are calling a “vicious attack.” Many elderly individuals, teenagers, and children were among the victims.

Fan was arrested while attempting to flee but is now in a coma due to self-inflicted injuries. Police suspect the attack may have stemmed from Fan’s frustration over a recent property dispute following his divorce, though they are unable to question him until he regains consciousness.

The attack occurred despite heightened security due to Zhuhai hosting a major airshow nearby, which has drawn international attention.

Several stadium entrances had been closed as part of security measures for the airshow, which is showcasing China’s latest military aircraft and drones.

Chinese President Xi Jinping expressed his concern, ordering urgent care for the injured and calling for the strictest punishment for the attacker. The central government has dispatched a working group to assist with investigations, which are still ongoing.

Eyewitnesses described the horror of the event, saying Fan’s SUV looped through the running track, striking people across the stadium’s perimeter. “It drove in a loop, and people were hurt in all areas,” one witness recounted, adding that bystanders and paramedics rushed to provide aid.

This tragedy comes amid a series of violent public attacks in China. In September, a man killed three in a Shanghai supermarket stabbing, and a young Japanese student was fatally stabbed in southern China.

Image: The Japan Times

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