A deadly stabbing spree took place at the Wuxi Vocational Institute of Arts and Technology in Yixing, Jiangsu province, China, on the evening of November 16, 2024. The attack was perpetrated by a 21-year-old former student, known by the last name Xu, resulting in eight fatalities and 17 injuries. The local police intervened around 6:30 p.m. and successfully apprehended Xu at the site of the assault.
Details released by authorities indicate that Xu, a failed student who was unable to graduate from the institute, was reportedly driven by frustration and resentment. He had also expressed discontent over the pay he received during an internship. The attack, which occurred on the institute’s campus, triggered panic and disorder among students and faculty. Emergency services responded promptly, establishing a secure perimeter and attending to the wounded.
Those injured in the attack were taken to local hospitals for medical care, with some reported in critical condition. Services for psychological support are being provided to students and staff affected by the incident.
This episode follows a string of violent incidents in China, including a recent event on November 11, when a man drove an SUV into a crowd outside a sports stadium in Zhuhai, resulting in 35 deaths and 43 injuries.
Such incidents have stirred public concerns about the adequacy of security measures in public areas and raised questions about societal factors that might be contributing to these acts of violence. President Xi Jinping expressed the need for increased vigilance and addressing deeper societal conflicts to avert such calamities. The Ministry of Public Security vowed to intensify preventive measures and to resolve conflicts at the grassroots level.
There have been several attacks at schools and other educational establishments in recent Chinese history. A notable incident occurred in 2010, when eight children were killed and five others injured in an attack on a school in Fujian province, prompting significant changes in school security and heightened awareness of mental health.
In response to these incidents, many Chinese schools have reinforced safety measures like installing metal detectors, deploying security personnel, and requiring ID checks. Despite these initiatives, the recurrence of such violent episodes has raised doubts over the effectiveness of these measures.
Chinese authorities have emphasized the need to enhance security in educational institutions and to address mental health issues. However, calls for a more comprehensive approach to address security and the social grievances that could potentially fuel such violent actions have been made by experts and officials.
Investigations into the motives and circumstances surrounding these recent violent events are ongoing. The aim is to develop broader strategies to prevent such future tragedies.
