Six people were killed in a kindergarten stabbing in the Guangdong province of southeast China, three of them were children.
The other victims are a teacher, two parents, and a 25-year-old male called Wu who has been detained by police in Lianjiang. There is only one injury.
Attack on a Chinese kindergarten
On Monday at 7:40 a.m. local time, the attack took place as parents were dropping off their kids for summer camp. Outrage and horror have been generated by the occurrence, and the area around it has been shut off.
The stabbings followed a disconcertingly predictable pattern, with at least 17 knife attacks in educational institutions since 2010. There have been ten of those between 2018 and 2023. The perpetrators are typically male and have shown animosity towards society.
- Six killed in kindergarten stabbing in Guangdong, three children.
- Attack occurred during summer camp drop-off, causing outrage.
- Severe social deprivation leads to violence; Chinese authorities increase security.
According to experts, there could be other explanations for the apparent rise in mass stabbings in China. One explanation could be the Covid-19 pandemic, which made Chinese towns subject to among of the strictest and longest lockdowns ever.
Although the consequences are not fully understood yet, they may include sentiments of hatred and rage as well as the loss of investments, jobs, and relationships.
High levels of stress and demands placed on young males in Chinese society, which are made worse by high rates of youth unemployment and a widening rich-poor split, are some more potential causes.
Some people who experience severe “social deprivation” may resort to violence as a way to express their anger at society. Since 2010, Chinese authorities have increased security surrounding schools, and following the incident in April 2021, the education ministry required emergency evacuation drills in classrooms.
