In a disturbing event in Shanghai, China, a man’s stabbing spree in a Walmart supermarket resulted in three fatalities and 15 injuries on Monday evening, September 30, 2024. The attack took place at the Ludu International Commercial Plaza, located in Shanghai’s bustling Songjiang district.
As reported by Chinese officials, the suspect, a 37-year-old man identified only by his surname “Lin,” was apprehended on site. Police relayed that Lin had journeyed to Shanghai to “vent his anger due to a personal economic dispute.” Investigations into the exact motivation behind the attack are still underway. The victims succumbed to their injuries in the hospital, while the individuals injured are anticipated to recover, as their injuries are not life-threatening.
A witness, known as “Shi,” shared his account of the incident with BBC News, describing a scene drenched in blood. Shi, who owns a jewelry store in the Ludu International Commercial Plaza, narrated how a throng of firefighters and SWAT officers stormed the mall, instructing people to evacuate. Shi admitted that he was initially clueless about the situation until he saw people frantically running away. Shi highlighted the unexpected and alarming nature of the incident, and shared his close escape from harm.
After the gruesome incident, the supermarket resumed operations the next day with increased security protocols. In China, where the use of firearms is strictly controlled, the rise in knife attacks has been causing concern for the authorities.
Just last month, a 10-year-old Japanese student was fatally stabbed near his school in southern China. Earlier in June, four U.S. college professors were assaulted and stabbed in a public park in the northeastern city of Jilin. In May, a man in Yunnan, a province in southern China, was responsible for a stabbing incident at a hospital that resulted in two deaths and 21 injuries.
The exact motive behind Lin’s violent act remains unclear, and authorities have pledged to reveal more details as the investigation advances. In response to these incidents, local law enforcement has amplified patrols and enhanced security in public spaces throughout the city.