A Chinese man who killed 35 people last month by driving his car into a crowd has been sentenced to death. The tragic incident, which shocked the nation, has raised concerns about a recent wave of violent attacks in China.
The driver, Fan Weiqiu, carried out the attack after being overwhelmed by anger. According to a court in Zhuhai, a city in southern China, Fan was frustrated over his divorce, including disputes about dividing financial assets. Fan admitted to endangering public safety in court and pleaded guilty.
The horrifying event unfolded on the evening of November 11 at the Zhuhai Sports Centre. Fan drove his SUV straight into a group of people exercising in the area. The aftermath was devastating—35 lives were lost, and 43 others suffered severe injuries. Authorities reported that Fan was found at the scene in a coma, with injuries indicating he had tried to harm himself.
Despite the gravity of the incident, it took nearly a day for the authorities to release details about the casualties. Meanwhile, online censors worked quickly to suppress eyewitness accounts and videos. By November 12, searches on popular platforms like Weibo mostly showed official statements, leaving little room for public discussion or sharing of videos and photos.
The sports complex where the tragedy happened remained closed the next day. People who came to pay their respects by leaving flowers at the gates found their bouquets removed within minutes. Cleaning staff told reporters they were following orders.
Even journalists trying to cover the story faced challenges. A foreign correspondent reporting outside the sports complex on November 12 was shoved by an unidentified man, a move often linked to efforts to prevent sensitive events from being widely reported.
This devastating attack wasn’t the only violent incident in China recently. On October 28, a stabbing in a local area injured five people, including three children. On November 16, eight people were killed, and 17 others injured, during a mass stabbing at a vocational college in Wuxi, Jiangsu Province. Just a few days later, on November 19, another driver plowed into a crowd outside a primary school in Changde, Hunan Province, leaving several people injured.
These random attacks have raised questions about the deeper problems within Chinese society. Some experts believe these acts of violence reflect growing frustration and despair among people who feel powerless under the strict control of the Chinese government.
One exiled activist explained that people often feel there’s no way to address their grievances. They may feel trapped, with no access to justice or freedom to voice their concerns. The activist pointed to problems like limited free speech, an ineffective petitioning system, and a flawed judicial process, saying these systemic issues often leave people without hope.
These tragedies highlight the need for addressing underlying issues and creating better ways for people to resolve problems before despair leads to violence.
