A man has been sentenced to death after killing 35 people by driving his car through a crowd.
Fan Weiqiu went on the murderous spree because he was unhappy with his divorce settlement, a court in the southern city of Zhuhai, China, heard on Friday. The victims were exercising at a sports center when he attacked them last month. After plowing through the crowd, he attempted to stab himself with a knife. Fan pleaded guilty to endangering public safety by dangerous means.
The court described his actions as extremely vile, particularly cruel, and resulting in severe consequences, leading to significant social harm. This sentencing marks the second verdict handed down quickly after the attack, coming just days after another driver received a suspended death sentence for injuring 30 people.
The attack has raised alarm across China, especially since several other violent incidents have been reported recently. Following this incident, Chinese leader Xi Jinping ordered local governments to implement steps to prevent future occurrences of such extreme cases. These measures aim to tackle personal disputes—ranging from marital issues to inheritance disagreements—that could escalate to violence.
Fan, 62 years old, committed the act out of frustration with his divorce settlement. The court's statement highlighted, "The nature of the crime was extremely vile, the means of the crime were particularly cruel, and the consequences of the crime were particularly severe, resulting in great social harm,” reflecting the court's condemnation of his actions.
Despite the serious nature of such crimes, incidents involving vehicle attacks or stabbings have become increasingly common in China, igniting discussions about societal anger and desperation. Analysts note the connection between economic pressures and personal grievances, as seen with Fan's actions and the outer chaos caused at the sports complex.
The scale of the tragedy struck deeply, with public outrage leading to swift action by the courts. The Zhuhai incident, which left 43 additional people injured, is now considered the worst assault on Chinese soil since 2014. Videos of the attack depicting chaos and fleeing spectators were censored by authorities, who were criticized for their slow response to disclosing information about fatalities.
Local authorities, engaged with the aftermath, faced scrutiny for their handling of memorials to victims; temporary tributes were reportedly cleared away as officials aimed to control public sentiments about the violence.
One reported observation found resonance on social media: some users vocally supported the harsh sentence handed to Fan, with calls for immediate execution. The general public sentiment reflects widespread anger over these violent occurrences.
The incident is not isolated—there is mounting evidence indicating 2023 has seen nine documented mass casualty incidents across China. The spate of attacks—car strikes and stabbings alike—has led citizens to question the stability of their public safety, traditionally seen as one of China’s strongest features.
Authorities have been prompted to expedite responses and tighten regulations around personal matters to also safeguard public spaces from similar acts of rage. Observers expect pressure on local governments to address these social friction points to gain public confidence back.
Fan Weiqiu's case encapsulates the dark strain of private rage erupting publicly and reflects broader societal issues needing careful examination to avert future tragedies.
