In Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, China, a 10-year-old Japanese elementary school student was stabbed to death by an unknown assailant, and local police in Shenzhen appear to be concluding that it was an accidental, solo crime by a suspect in his 40s.
Chinese public security officials are investigating the scene near a Japanese school in Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, China, where a Japanese elementary school student was attacked on the 18th. AP Yonhap News
According to China Observer on the 20th, Shenzhen police stated that “the suspect arrested at the scene is 44-year-old Mr. Zhong,” and that “this incident was an accidental, isolated crime.” They continued, “The suspect is currently unemployed and has a criminal record, having been detained in 2015 for destroying public communication facilities and in 2019 for disrupting public order.” They added, “The suspect was arrested on the day of the incident, and this case is currently under investigation.” However, the police did not disclose specific details such as the motive for the crime.
Earlier, at 7:55 AM on the 18th, a 10-year-old child was stabbed with a weapon wielded by the suspect while walking to a Japanese school in Shenzhen. The incident occurred on a sidewalk about 200 meters from the school gate, and the victim was taken to the hospital but died that morning.
The Japanese school was established with donations from the Shenzhen Japanese Chamber of Commerce under the leadership of Fujifilm’s Shenzhen branch. The students enrolled at the school are known to be Japanese nationals living in Shenzhen and its surrounding areas. Regarding this incident, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida emphasized, “This is an extremely despicable crime and a serious and grave matter,” and “I strongly demand that the safety of Japanese people be secured and that this incident be prevented, and at the same time, we will take all measures that the government can.”
A crime targeting Japanese people in China occurred three months ago. In June, a Chinese man attacked a Japanese school bus in Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, killing a Chinese school bus driver and injuring a Japanese mother and son.
Regarding the elementary school attack, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated, “This incident is an isolated case, and similar incidents can occur in any country,” and “We express regret and sorrow over the unfortunate incident.”
Reporter Seo Pil-woong seoseo@segye.com
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