A knife attack at a supermarket in suburban Shanghai left three people dead and 15 others injured on Monday evening, local police reported.
The Songjiang police branch said in a statement Tuesday that a 37-year-old man, identified only by his surname Lin, was taken into custody following the attack. Authorities stated that Lin had personal financial disputes and came to Shanghai to “vent his anger.”
“The suspect acted alone and targeted random individuals,” said a police spokesperson who requested anonymity due to the ongoing investigation. “We are working to understand the full circumstances of this tragic incident.”
Eighteen people were initially sent to hospitals for treatment, with three succumbing to their injuries. The conditions of the other victims were not immediately disclosed.
The attack occurred in a suburban district southwest of Shanghai, on the eve of China’s weeklong National Day holidays. It marks the latest in a series of knife attacks that have raised concerns about public safety in China.
Last month, a 10-year-old Japanese student died after being stabbed near his school in southern China. In a separate incident, a Chinese national was killed while trying to stop an attacker at a school bus stop for a Japanese school, which also left a Japanese mother and child injured.
Earlier this year, four U.S. university instructors from Cornell College teaching at Beihua University were stabbed at a public park in Jilin, northeast China. Their injuries were not critical.
These incidents have prompted calls for increased security measures and mental health support services across the country.
As the investigation into the Shanghai attack continues, authorities are urging the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity.
