On Monday, September 30, 2024, a horrific incident unfolded in a Walmart supermarket in Shanghai, China where a man’s stabbing spree ended with three people dead and 15 others injured. The attack took place in the city’s bustling Songjiang district, specifically at the Ludu International Commercial Plaza.
The 37-year-old perpetrator, known only by his surname, “Lin,” was arrested at the scene, according to Chinese officials. Police revealed that Lin had traveled to Shanghai to “vent his anger due to a personal economic dispute,” although the exact motive is still under investigation. The victims succumbed to their injuries at the hospital, while the 15 injured are expected to recover, as their injuries are not classified as life-threatening.
An eyewitness at the scene, known as “Shi,” narrated the horrific event to BBC News. Shi, who runs a jewelry store at the ground level of the Ludu International Commercial Plaza, recollected how several firefighters and SWAT officers stormed the mall, directing people to evacuate. He was initially unaware of the chaos until panic set in among the crowd. Shi expressed his shock and fear, noting he narrowly escaped injury in the incident.
Following the incident, the supermarket resumed operations the next day with enhanced security measures. Despite the strict prohibition of firearms in China, knife attacks have been on the rise, causing increased concern for the authorities.
Just last month, a 10-year-old Japanese student was tragically stabbed near his school in southern China. In June, four U.S. college professors were assaulted and stabbed in a public park in Jilin, a city in northeastern China. In a separate incident a month prior, a man killed two individuals and wounded 21 others in a stabbing spree at a hospital in Yunnan, a southern Chinese province.
While Lin’s motive remains unclear, authorities have pledged to provide further details as the investigation continues. In response to the incident, local law enforcement has stepped up patrols and reinforced security at public places in the city.
