A brutal stabbing attack rocked the Wuxi Vocational Institute of Arts and Technology in Yixing, a city in Jiangsu province, China, on Saturday, November 16, 2024. The perpetrator, a 21-year-old former student known only by his last name, Xu, left eight people dead and 17 wounded. The incident began close to 6:30 p.m. and concluded with Xu’s capture at the crime scene, as reported by local law enforcement.
According to the authorities, Xu, a student who had previously failed his examinations, was unable to graduate from the institute. His academic failure, coupled with dissatisfaction over his internship wages, reportedly drove him to commit the violent act. The attack took place within the campus, triggering fear and disarray among staff and students. First responders were on the scene promptly, tending to the injured and securing the vicinity.
The identities of the victims have yet to be made public, as law enforcement officials continue to inform their families. The injured victims were rushed to nearby hospitals for medical treatment, with some still in a critical state. Authorities are also providing psychological support to those affected by the violent act at the institute.
This violent act follows a string of recent attacks in China, including an event on November 11, where an SUV was driven into a crowd outside a sports stadium in Zhuhai. The incident resulted in 35 fatalities and 43 injuries.
These back-to-back incidents have sparked public discourse on the safety of public spaces and the potential societal triggers behind such violent acts. President Xi Jinping has called for increased vigilance, stressing the need to address potential societal tensions that can lead to such tragedies. The Ministry of Public Security has also pledged to boost preventive measures and address conflicts at grassroots levels.
In 2010, a similar attack targeting a school in Fujian province resulted in eight children being killed and five others injured. This led to significant reforms in school security and a renewed focus on mental health issues in China.
Chinese schools have taken numerous measures over the years such as installing metal detectors, deploying security personnel, and enforcing mandatory ID checks in an attempt to enhance campus safety. However, the recurrence of such violent incidents brings the effectiveness of these measures into question.
Responding to these violence episodes, Chinese authorities have underscored the need for additional security measures at educational institutions and a greater focus on mental health issues. However, officials and experts are advocating for a more holistic approach that addresses not just security concerns but also the possible societal grievances that may be fueling such violent behavior.
Investigations are ongoing into the reasons and circumstances surrounding these recent incidents, with the aim of formulating broader strategies to prevent such tragedies in the future.