Tragic vehicle attack in Zhuhai raises concerns over censorship
In the city of Zhuhai in southern China, a man driving an SUV intentionally drove into a group of people, resulting in the deaths of at least 35 and injuries to 43 others. According to preliminary police findings, the perpetrator wanted to "take revenge on society" due to dissatisfaction with the division of property after a divorce.
The tragedy occurred on Monday before 7 a.m. Eastern Time (before 1 p.m. in Poland). According to local police, 62-year-old Fan, who was divorced, forcefully struck people exercising and walking on a track and the plaza near a sports centre, then attempted to flee the scene.
Security services reported that the perpetrator was apprehended while "sitting in the vehicle, inflicting knife wounds on himself." The man was taken to the hospital with neck and leg injuries; he is currently in a coma.
Police stated that Fan's motive was "dissatisfaction with the division of his property after the divorce." This is another case of a desperate act described as "revenge on society," which has occurred in China in recent years. Such attacks, like knife assaults in schools or deliberate pedestrian hits, often stem from personal frustrations or a desire for revenge against government decisions.
The Hong Kong newspaper "Mingpao" notes that even on Monday evening, the first reports from Chinese media and posts from internet users were being removed, and materials on social media were being replaced with the message "the file cannot be displayed." According to the newspaper, authorities were trying to quickly censor the information to avoid panic before the start of the international Zhuhai Airshow.
During the Zhuhai Airshow, which runs until Sunday, the Chinese J-35A fighter and the Russian Su-57 were among those showcased. The Polish Press Agency reports that authorities wanted to avoid negative impact from the news of the attack on the country's image during this prestigious event.
In China, the problem of desperate attacks on random individuals is growing. Experts point out that the causes of such behaviour are often dissatisfaction with personal life or a desire for revenge due to officials' decisions.
