A court in China has sentenced a man to death for killing 35 people last month when he drove a car into a crowd of people, in an attack that raised national concern about mass killings.
The court in the southern city of Zhuhai said that Fan Weiqiu was venting his anger because he was not happy with his divorce settlement. The victims were training in a sports center. A court statement said Vann pleaded guilty to endangering public safety by dangerous means.
“Fan’s criminal motive was extremely despicable, the nature of the crime was extremely despicable, the means of the crime were particularly cruel, and the consequences of the crime were particularly severe, resulting in great social harm,” the court said.
The attack was one of several in China in late October and November, and prompted Chinese President Xi Jinping to order local governments to take steps to prevent “extreme cases” in the future. His order prompted local leaders to pledge to study interpersonal conflicts that could lead to aggression, from marital problems to disputes over inheritance.
Fan’s sentence was the second to be handed down in quick succession just weeks after the latest attacks, much faster than cases usually heard by courts in China.
An SUV hit students outside a primary school in China, injuring several people
A court earlier this week handed down a two-year suspended death sentence to a driver who injured 30 people when he ran over primary school students and their parents in Hunan province. These sentences are usually commuted to life imprisonment.
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The court in Changde city said the driver was taking out his frustration after losing the money he invested.
Such attacks on crowds, with a vehicle or knife, are not new in China, but a spate this fall and the large number of casualties in the Zhuhai attack have renewed focus on the issue. Attackers often take out their anger and frustration over a personal matter in what is known as “revenge against society” crimes.
Chinese authorities keep a tight lid on any reports of attacks, monitoring videos and eyewitness accounts posted on social media, and releasing only basic information, often several hours later.
The death toll in Zhuhai was not announced until 24 hours after the attack. In addition to the 35 people killed, 43 others were injured, police said. A police statement said that the driver, Van, aged 62, was found in his car trying to stab himself with a knife.
The police set up barriers the day after the attack and prevented people from entering the sports complex. Members of the public left bouquets of flowers next to a nearby square instead.
—Associated Press researcher Yu Ping contributed to this report.
& Edition 2024 The Canadian Press
