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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Elephant calf brought from Bijnor kept under care at Pilibhit Tiger Reserve
Pilibhit (PTI): A 19-day-old elephant calf, brought from Bijnor, was placed under care at the Pilibhit Tiger Reserve (PTR) on Sunday, an official said and added that the calf got separated from its mother in the forest area of Bijnor.
The calf was born on December 2 in the Bijnor forest area and got separated from its mother shortly after birth, the official said.
The forest department made several attempts to reunite it with its mother, but without any success. To ensure the calf's safety and better care, it was decided to transfer it to the Pilibhit Tiger Reserve on the instructions of senior officials.
On Saturday, Deputy Director Manish Singh received the calf. Special arrangements have been made in the reserve for its care. It has been kept in a safe and clean environment to provide it with a natural setting and protect it from external noise and disturbances.
Singh told reporters that raising an 19-day-old calf is challenging.
It requires a special diet as a substitute for mother's milk and constant monitoring.
He said a special team has been formed to provide 24-hour care. Since the calf is very young, it is being cared for like a newborn baby.
According to Singh, the primary responsibility for monitoring the calf's health has been entrusted to PTR's veterinarian, Dr Daksh Gangwar. Under his supervision, a complete record of the calf's health checkups, diet, and body temperature is being maintained. The team is ensuring that the calf does not contract any infection.
