On Monday night in China, a car ran into a crowd that had assembled near a stadium; local police reported a devastating incident that injured several people. People ran for their lives in chaos and terror when they witnessed a vehicle crash into the crowd of people, the majority having been injured and required medical attention.

Incident Details

According to police reports, the driver was the 62-year-old Fan, whose full name is still unknown. Witnesses who spoke to reporters said that the car zoomed into the crowd that filled the area of the Zhuhai Sports Center to engage in evening exercise.

Local reports say that at least 20 people were struck and taken to nearby hospitals for treatment. The severity of the injuries is still not confirmed, but there are reports of people remaining unconscious at the spot. This accident occurred while tight security measures continued surrounding Zhuhai, hosting a mega civil and military airshow.

Eyewitness Accounts

Several eyewitnesses have reported the incident. Resident Mr. Chen, recalling the incidents to the Chinese news portal Caixin, said that he saw the vehicle “charge towards the crowd along a path tracing out the perimeter of the stadium, where groups of people are often walking or jogging.”.

“It ran in a circle, ramming people on all sides of the circuit-eastern, southern, western, and northern,” another eyewitness related to Caixin, describing how the driver’s zigzag course resulted in casualties on several sides of the venue. Most of the injured are seniors and children, indicating the vast area that this tragic accident has covered.

Security Issues At Zhuhai Airshow

The event has raised alarm during heightened security within the city due to the Zhuhai Airshow, a big air show for China’s military and civil aviation systems. The airshow grounds are 40 kilometers from the stadium, and the place is highly restricted in movement and access, sparking speculation that the event might be related to the high-profile show. Still, the government needs to give such an official connection.

The Zhuhai Sports Centre, where the tragedy struck, had reduced entrance and exit areas due to heightened security measures regarding the airshow over the weekend. However, heightened precautions could not help the tragic event of Monday as the probe into the exact motive and circumstances of the attack is still underway.

Conclusion

A spate of violent incidents targeting public areas has caused concerns about the safety of public places lately in China. Besides the deadly stabbing at a Shanghai supermarket in September, this week witnessed another incident when a car attacked people on Monday. Local authorities, before the conclusion of the investigation, have appealed to the public to remain vigilant and to inform the authorities should they see anything suspicious as the city comes to terms with this brutal attack.