35 dead as driver hits crowd at sports centre in South China

At least 35 people were dead and 43 others injured after 62-year-old man rammed his car at a Chinese sports centre.

A driver killed 35 people and severely injured another 43 when he deliberately rammed his car into people exercising at a sports centre in the southern Chinese city of Zhuhai, police said Tuesday (November 12, 2024).

Police had detained a 62-year-old man at the sports centre in the southern Chinese city of Zhuhai following the ramming late Monday (November 10, 2024), on the eve of the country’s premier aviation exhibition by the People’s Liberation Army that's hosted annually in the city.

Police identified the man only by his family name of Fan, consistent with the practice by Chinese authorities.

Fan was discovered in the car with a knife, with wounds to his neck thought to be self-harm injuries, according to the statement. He is unconscious and receiving medical care.

He was dissatisfied with the split of financial assets in his divorce, according to a preliminary investigation, police said.

For almost 24 hours after the crime took place, it was unclear what the death or injury toll was. One of the four hospitals that took in people for treatment said it had more than 20 injured, state media reported Monday (November 11, 2024). AP reporters call to the hospitals in the city were unanswered, or directed towards other hospitals.

On Tuesday (November 12, 2024) morning, searches for the incident on Chinese social media were heavily censored on Chinese social media platforms. A search on Weibo for the sports centre only turned up a few posts, with only a couple referring to the fact something had happened, without pictures or details. Articles by Chinese media about the incident from Monday (November 11, 2024) night were taken down.