A horrific incident unfolded at a kindergarten in China’s south-eastern Guangdong province, claiming the lives of six individuals, including three young children. The local authorities wasted no time in apprehending a 25-year-old man named Wu in connection with the brutal attack that took place in Lianjiang town. A local city official, cited by AFP, confirmed that among the victims were a teacher and two parents, adding to the gravity of the devastating event. Additionally, one person sustained injuries during the assault, which occurred at 07:40 local time on Monday. Prompt action by the police led to Wu’s arrest at 08:00, as they swiftly classified the incident as a case of “intentional assault.” The area surrounding the kindergarten has been cordoned off, creating an atmosphere of heightened security, according to a witness working nearby.
The heart-wrenching tragedy has ignited widespread conversations on Chinese social media platforms, with users expressing shock and disbelief at the senseless act. While China generally experiences a relatively low rate of violent crime, knife attacks have unfortunately occurred in recent years, with schools becoming targets in some instances. In a similar incident in August of last year, a knife-wielding assailant stormed a kindergarten in the south-eastern Jiangxi province, resulting in the deaths of three individuals and leaving six others injured. In April 2021, Beiliu City in the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region witnessed a mass stabbing, claiming the lives of two children and injuring sixteen others. Another incident took place in October 2018, when a knife attack at a kindergarten in Chongqing, located in south-west China, left fourteen children wounded.
In response to these tragic events, Chinese authorities have been proactively enhancing security measures in schools since 2010. That year, the Ministry of Public Security issued a resolute call to local authorities, urging them to crack down on criminal activities and prioritize the safety of teachers and students. In the wake of the April 2021 attack, the Ministry of Education mandated emergency evacuation drills in schools, aiming to strengthen preparedness and response capabilities.
