CHINA / SOCIETY
Xi urges all-out efforts to treat those injured in car ramming case
China’s central authorities have dispatched a team to oversee handling of case
Published: Nov 12, 2024 11:32 PM
Chinese President Xi Jinping has urged all-out efforts to treat those who were injured in a car ramming incident on Monday in Zhuhai City, south China's Guangdong Province.

In an instruction on the case, Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, demanded the perpetrator be severely punished according to the law.

The incident occurred in a sports center in Zhuhai, killing 35 people and severely injuring 43 others.

Xi urged all localities and relevant authorities to draw lessons from the case, and to strengthen their prevention and control of risks at the source.

A car ramming incident that took place on Monday evening in Zhuhai killed some 35 people and injured 43. The suspect, a 62-year-old divorced male, drove a car into the crowd in a sports center in Zhuhai at around 7:48pm on Monday, according to a statement released by Zhuhai police on Tuesday. The injured are not in life-threatening condition, police said. 

Xi also emphasized the importance of resolving disputes in time, preventing the occurrence of extreme cases, and making every effort to safeguard the security of people's lives and social stability.

Chinese Premier Li Qiang has called for appropriately handling the aftermath of the incident, swiftly investigating into the case and severely punishing the perpetrator in accordance with the law.

Li, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, urged coordinated risk prevention and control efforts to ensure social stability.

Following Xi's instruction, China's central authorities have dispatched a team to oversee the handling of the case.

According to the statement released by Zhuhai police on Tuesday, the suspect, surnamed Fan, attempted to flee the scene but was controlled by police on the spot. Police discovered that Fan had tried to commit self-harm with a knife inside the car. They intervened and sent him to a hospital for treatment.

The suspect injured his neck badly during the act of self-harm and fell into a coma. He's currently unable to answer police questions. 

Following a comprehensive investigation that included scene analysis, video surveillance, witness testimonies, and electronic evidence, police initially concluded that the case was caused by dissatisfaction with the division of marital property during his divorce.

Fan is currently under criminal detention in accordance with the law. The investigation, medical treatment of the injured, and other follow-up work are ongoing, according to police statement. 

Global Times-Xinhua