Knife Attack at Chinese Hospital Leaves 2 Dead and 21 Injured
BEIJING — A horrific knife attack at a hospital in south-west China has resulted in the deaths of at least two individuals and left 21 others wounded.
The stabbing took place at 11:37 local time (03:37 GMT) at Zhenxiong People’s Hospital in Yunnan province, according to the police.
Startling images released by China’s The Paper depicted a man dressed in black, brandishing knives in both hands within the hospital premises.
Authorities stated that the suspect hails from Poji town in Zhenxiong, with his current status regarding arrest remaining unclear.
Initial reports by state media indicated that 23 individuals had sustained injuries, although officials have since revised the figure downwards.
“Currently, the wounded are receiving medical attention at the hospital as investigations continue,” the police declared in an official statement.
Footage featured by The Paper also showcased police vehicles and a sizable contingent of officers stationed outside the hospital, with the carpark entrance visibly cordoned off.
“The situation remains quite chaotic, with authorities still confirming the exact figures. Law enforcement is actively addressing the situation,” a local resident informed The Paper.
Residents and businesses in the vicinity have been advised by authorities to “secure their premises” and “avoid interactions with unfamiliar individuals,” as reported by Chinese news outlet Hongxing News.
While firearms are prohibited in China, the nation has witnessed a series of knife-related assaults in recent times.
Just last August, a mentally unstable individual unleashed a knife attack in a residential area of Yunnan, resulting in two fatalities and seven injuries.
In a similarly tragic incident in July of that year, six individuals, including three children, lost their lives in a stabbing at a kindergarten in the south-eastern province of Guangdong. — BBC
