Authorities revealed that the suspect had traveled to Shanghai to “vent his anger due to a personal economic dispute.” Out of the 18 people taken to the hospital, three later died, while the remaining victims suffered non-life-threatening injuries, officials confirmed.
Chinese social media featured videos of the attack, showing a child and several passersby among the victims inside the supermarket. However, these videos and images were reportedly censored by authorities after sparking public outrage.
This attack is part of a troubling trend of stabbing incidents in China, where firearms are banned. In recent months, the country has witnessed several such incidents, including attacks on foreign nationals. Last month, a 10-year-old Japanese student was killed in a stabbing near his school in Shenzhen, and in June, four American university instructors were attacked in a park in Jilin.
The attack occurred as China marked the 75th anniversary of Communist Party rule amid significant economic difficulties. The Chinese economy, the world’s second-largest, has been struggling, missing its modest 5 percent growth target, with July 2024 data showing GDP growth below the government’s expectations.
