A knife attack at the Wuxi Vocational Institute of Arts and Technology in Yixing, Jiangsu province, claimed eight lives and injured 17 others on Saturday evening.
The suspect, a 21-year-old former student, was arrested and confessed to the crime. Authorities revealed he was supposed to graduate this year but failed his exams. His motive was reportedly fueled by anger.
The school, home to about 12,000 students globally, offers art, ceramics, design, and fashion courses. Emergency services provided medical care and support to the victims and their families.
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Knife attacks, while not uncommon in China due to strict gun laws, rarely result in such high casualties. This tragic event follows another violent incident earlier in the week, where a 62-year-old driver killed 35 and injured over 40 by plowing his SUV into a crowd in Zhuhai, southern China.
The incidents sparked shock and concern among netizens on platforms like Weibo. Many emphasized the need for increased campus security and mental health education. However, specific comments critical of the social divide and systemic issues were censored.
China has faced a series of violent incidents in recent months. In October, a knife attack in a Shanghai supermarket killed three and injured 15, while in September, a Japanese student was fatally stabbed in Shenzhen.
One of the deadliest incidents occurred in 2014, when separatist militants attacked train passengers in Kunming, leaving 30 dead and over 140 injured.
