35 killed, 43 injured as man rams car into crowd in Chinese city
Beijing/Zhuhai, Nov 12: Thirty-five people were killed and 43 others injured when a 62-year-old man rammed his car into a crowd of people exercising at a sports centre on Monday in the Chinese city of Zhuhai, which is currently hosting the country's prestigious international air show.
Terming it a "major vicious incident", local police said the incident occurred around 7:48 p.m. Monday when citizens were exercising at the sports centre where a large number of people gathered for physical workouts, the official media reported Tuesday.
The attacker, a divorced man identified as Fan, was quickly brought under control by the police as he was fleeing the scene, they said.
Responding officers found Fan in his vehicle attempting to self-harm with a knife. They swiftly intervened and sent him to the hospital, it said.
Fan is still receiving medical treatment as he was unconscious due to severe injuries to his neck and other areas and is not yet fit to be questioned by the police, state-run Xinhua news agency quoted the local police bureau as saying.
A preliminary investigation indicates that Fan's actions stemmed from his dissatisfaction with the property division outcome of his divorce, according to the police.
The police authorities have filed a case to investigate Fan on suspicion of endangering public safety by dangerous means and have placed him under criminal detention. Further investigations into the case and medical treatment for the injured are underway.
While the reports of the incident are widely censored on official and social media, videos posted on Twitter showed distressing pictures of bodies lying on the street with injured people crying for help.
While the incident took place on Monday evening, the Chinese official media released the reports only on Tuesday evening.
The incident took place just as China opened its six-day high-profile air show Tuesday, attended by several foreigners besides overseas media.
The Chinese military displayed a variety of fighter jets, including a new stealth fighter and drone ship, in the air show.
Besides China, other countries like Russia also displayed their new fighter aircraft.
Speculation is rife whether the car-ramming incident targeting a large crowd at a sports centre ahead of the opening of the prestigious air show was aimed at casting a shadow over it.
Expressing concern over the incident, Chinese President Xi Jinping urged all-out efforts to treat the injured.
He “demanded” the perpetrator be severely punished according to the law, Xinhua reported.
Xi urged all localities and relevant authorities to draw lessons from the case and to strengthen their prevention and control of risks at the source.
He also emphasised the importance of resolving disputes in time, preventing the occurrence of extreme cases, and making every effort to safeguard the security of the people's lives and social stability.
Chinese Premier Li Qiang has called for appropriate handling of the aftermath of the incident, swiftly investigating the case and severely punishing the perpetrator in accordance with the law.
Li also called for coordinated risk prevention and control efforts to ensure social stability.
Following Xi's instruction, central authorities have dispatched a team to oversee the handling of the case, the report said.
Car ramming incidents, besides knife attacks on civilians, have taken place periodically in China in recent months. The incidents are routinely blamed on disgruntled elements by security officials.
In July, eight people died and five others injured after a vehicle crashed into pedestrians in Changsha City, the capital of China's central Hunan Province.
A 55-year-old man was arrested in the incident.
#Watch: 35 people have been killed and dozens of others were injured in a car ramming in Zhuhai, south China's Guangdong Province.#China #Zhuhai #chinese #Accident pic.twitter.com/cQIxUoF8aw
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London, Nov 22: A bomb disposal squad deployed as a “precaution” to the South Terminal of Gatwick Airport concluded an investigation into a "security incident" on Friday after making a “suspect package” safe.
The South Terminal of Gatwick Airport, the UK's second busiest airport after Heathrow, which was briefly shut owing to the incident reopened following the incident.
The Gatwick is around 45 km south of London.
Two people detained during the enquiries have since been allowed to continue their journey as the airport was opened.
“Police have concluded their investigation into a report of a suspect package at Gatwick Airport. Officers from the EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) team made the package safe, and the airport has been handed back to its operator,” Sussex Police said in an updated statement.
“Two people detained while enquiries were ongoing have subsequently been allowed to continue their journeys. There will remain an increased police presence in the area to assist with passengers accessing the South Terminal for onward travel,” the statement added.
Earlier on Friday, the incident caused severe disruption at the busy airport’s South Terminal, while the North Terminal of Gatwick Airport remained unaffected.
“Police were called to the South Terminal at Gatwick Airport at 8.20 am on Friday (November 22) following the discovery of a suspected prohibited item in luggage,” a Sussex Police statement said.
“To ensure the safety of the public, staff and other airport users, a security cordon has been put in place whilst the matter is dealt with. As a precaution, an EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) team is being deployed to the airport. This is causing significant disruption and some roads around the South Terminal have been closed. We’d advise the public to avoid the area where possible,” it said.
Footage on social media taken outside the airport showed crowds of frustrated travellers being moved away from the terminal building.
Gatwick said it was working hard to resolve the issue.
“A large part of the South Terminal has been evacuated as a precaution while we continue to investigate a security incident," the airport said in a social media post.
“Passengers will not be able to enter the South Terminal while this is ongoing. The safety and security of our passengers and staff remain our top priority. We are working hard to resolve the issue as quickly as possible.”
Train and bus services that serve the airport were also impacted while the police carried out their inquiries.
In an unrelated incident in south London on Friday morning, the US Embassy area in Nine Elms by the River Thames was the scene of a controlled explosion by Scotland Yard dealing with what they believe may have been a “hoax device”.
“We can confirm the 'loud bang' reported in the area a short time ago was a controlled explosion carried out by officers,” the Metropolitan Police said in a post on X.
“Initial indications are that the item was a hoax device. An investigation will now follow. Some cordons will remain in place for the time being but the majority of the police response will now be stood down,” it added.
