Six individuals, including three children, were tragically killed in a stabbing incident at a kindergarten in China’s Guangdong province. Local police have apprehended a 25-year-old suspect named Wu in Lianjiang. The victims include a teacher and two parents, according to local officials cited by AFP. One person has also been injured. While the police have labeled it as a case of “intentional assault,” they have not yet disclosed a possible motive.
The attack occurred on Monday morning at around 07:40 local time (23:40 Sunday GMT), during the drop-off period for summer classes. The suspect was arrested at 08:00. The surrounding area has been cordoned off by authorities, according to a storeowner near the kindergarten.
Videos of the incident circulated on Chinese social media, prompting shock and outrage. This unfortunate event aligns with a distressingly familiar pattern in the country. Although firearms are prohibited in China, there has been a series of knife attacks in recent years. Notably, one incident involved a perpetrator using a chemical spray to harm a classroom of 50 children.
Findwhosabi has documented at least 17 knife attacks in schools, colleges, and universities since 2010, with 10 occurring between 2018 and 2023. Last year, in south-eastern Jiangxi province, a knife-wielding assailant targeted a kindergarten, resulting in three fatalities and six injuries. In April 2021, two children died and 16 others were injured during a mass stabbing in Beiliu City, Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region. Another incident took place in Chongqing in October 2018, where 14 children were injured in a knife attack at a kindergarten.
Male perpetrators expressing grievances against society have been commonly observed in these cases, reflecting patterns seen in mass killings worldwide. Experts suggest that factors such as the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, including prolonged lockdowns and associated job losses, may contribute to heightened frustration and resentment. Additionally, high levels of stress, societal expectations on young men, youth unemployment, and income inequality could amplify these underlying issues, leading to acts of violence.
Since 2010, Chinese authorities have increased security measures in and around educational institutions. The Ministry of Public Security urged local authorities to crack down on criminal activities and ensure the safety of teachers and students. Following the April 2021 attack, the Ministry of Education mandated emergency evacuation drills in schools. Beijing, concerned about copycat incidents, has restricted state media from publishing full details of Monday’s tragic incident at the kindergarten.