Fatal Kindergarten Stabbing in China’s Guangdong Province Claims Lives of Six Individuals, Including Three Children
Tragedy struck a kindergarten located in China’s southeastern province of Guangdong, where a horrifying stabbing incident unfolded, resulting in the deaths of six individuals, including three innocent children. Local authorities promptly apprehended a 25-year-old suspect named Wu in Lianjiang town, as confirmed by the police. A local city official, quoted by AFP, revealed that a dedicated teacher and two grieving parents were among the other victims. Additionally, one person sustained injuries during the attack, which occurred at 07:40 local time on Monday, sending shockwaves through the community. Law enforcement has swiftly categorized this distressing event as a case of “intentional assault,” and as a precautionary measure, the vicinity surrounding the kindergarten has been sealed off, according to a storeowner working nearby who spoke to the BBC.
News of the harrowing incident has quickly spread across Chinese social media platforms, with countless users expressing their disbelief and sorrow. While violent crime is relatively uncommon in China, the nation has sadly witnessed a series of knife attacks in recent years, with educational institutions sometimes serving as the tragic backdrop. Last year in August, a knife-wielding assailant wreaked havoc at a kindergarten in the southeastern province of Jiangxi, claiming the lives of three individuals and injuring six others. Similarly, in April 2021, Beiliu City in the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region was the site of a mass stabbing that resulted in the deaths of two children, while sixteen more suffered injuries. Another grim incident occurred in October 2018, when a knife attack unfolded at a kindergarten in Chongqing, situated in southwestern China, leaving fourteen children wounded.
Chinese authorities have been steadfast in their commitment to enhancing security measures surrounding schools since 2010, responding to these distressing events. In that year, the Ministry of Public Security urged local authorities to take firm action against criminal activities to safeguard the well-being of both teachers and students. In the aftermath of the April 2021 attack, the Ministry of Education implemented mandatory emergency evacuation drills in schools, aiming to bolster preparedness and response capabilities in the face of potential threats.