Fri Dec 27 17:01:11 UTC 2024: ## Man Executed for Deadly China Rampage
**Zhuhai, China** – A Chinese court has sentenced a 62-year-old man, Fan Weiqiu, to death for driving his vehicle into a crowd of exercising people, killing 35 and injuring 43 others in Zhuhai last month. The November 11th attack, described by the court as having an “extremely despicable” motive, is one of the deadliest mass casualty events in recent Chinese history.
The Zhuhai Intermediate People’s Court stated that Fan, fueled by anger over his divorce settlement, deliberately drove into the crowd at a sports center. He pleaded guilty to endangering public safety by dangerous means. The court emphasized the severity of the crime, citing the cruelty of the method, the immense loss of life, and the significant societal impact.
This incident, along with other recent violent attacks in China, has prompted national concern and a response from President Xi Jinping. He has ordered local governments to address the root causes of such violence, including personal disputes arising from economic hardship and social stratification. The government’s response also includes censorship of online information related to these incidents. In a related case, a driver who injured 30 people in Hunan province received a suspended death sentence, a sentence often commuted to life imprisonment.
The attack in Zhuhai, initially met with delayed official information, saw the death toll confirmed only 24 hours after the event. Police found Fan attempting to stab himself in his vehicle following the rampage. The sports complex remained closed in the aftermath, with mourners leaving flowers at a nearby square. The incident highlights anxieties about public safety in a nation typically associated with low crime rates.
First Piper 