China Executes Man for Deadly Car Rampage in Zhuhai
China has executed Fan Weiqiu, a 62-year-old man convicted of killing at least 35 people in a car rampage in Zhuhai in November. The attack, which also injured dozens of people, is considered the deadliest in the country in a decade. Authorities said Fan carried out the act due to personal dissatisfaction after his divorce.
State media also reported the execution of Xu Jiajin, 21, who killed eight people in a stabbing spree at his university in Wuxi. Both executions highlight China’s severe response to a growing trend of violent public attacks across the country.
Deadly Rampage in Zhuhai
Fan’s attack occurred on November 11, when he deliberately drove his car into people exercising outside a stadium in the southern city of Zhuhai. Detained at the scene, Fan was later found guilty of “endangering public safety” by the Zhuhai Intermediate People’s Court.
The court described Fan’s actions as having a “particularly cruel” method and “extremely vile” motive. Less than a month after his sentencing in December, Fan was executed on Monday.
Stabbing Spree in Wuxi
Days after the Zhuhai car attack, Xu Jiajin carried out a stabbing spree at his university in Wuxi, killing eight people. Authorities said Xu’s crime was driven by frustration over his inability to graduate due to poor exam results. He confessed to the crime immediately and was sentenced to death in December. Xu was executed shortly after Fan.
China’s Public Violence Problem
China has faced a worrying rise in public violence, with many attackers targeting strangers as an outlet for personal grievances. In 2024, the country recorded 19 such incidents, often described as acts of “revenge on society.”
For example, within days of the Zhuhai and Wuxi attacks, another man, Huang Wen, drove into a crowd outside a primary school in Changde city, injuring 30 people. Huang, who blamed his actions on investment losses and family issues, received a suspended death sentence last month.
Experts believe these incidents reflect deeper societal pressures, including economic struggles and family conflicts.
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