A man in southern China has been sentenced to death for a horrific act of violence that resulted in the deaths of 35 people. The incident occurred at a sports center in the city of Zhuhai, where the perpetrator, identified as Fan Weiqiu, rammed his car into a crowd of people who were exercising outdoors.
The attack, which took place last month, is considered the deadliest known act of violence against the public in China in the past decade. Fan, aged 62, pleaded guilty to the crime and was sentenced at the Zhuhai Intermediate People’s Court after a hearing.
According to the court's findings, Fan carried out the attack in a fit of rage stemming from his failed marriage and what he perceived as an unfair divorce settlement. He drove his vehicle into the crowd at the Zhuhai Sports Center, hitting numerous individuals who were exercising around a track.
Following the incident, police found Fan in the car attempting to harm himself with a knife. The court described Fan's actions as despicable, brutal, and cruel, leading to the decision to sentence him to death.
This tragic event has shocked the nation, as China has experienced a series of violent incidents targeting random members of the public in recent months. The country's economic slowdown has been cited as a possible factor contributing to these acts of violence.
Chinese leader Xi Jinping condemned the attack as 'extremely vicious' and called for severe punishment for the perpetrator. This sentencing comes shortly after another similar incident in central Hunan province, where a man received a suspended death sentence for ramming his car into crowds outside a primary school, injuring multiple people.
The tragic consequences of these violent acts serve as a stark reminder of the importance of addressing mental health issues and societal pressures to prevent such senseless acts of violence in the future.
