Tragedy on eve of China's National Day: Three killed in knife attack at supermarket in Shanghai

Three people were killed and 15 others were injured following a knife attack at a suburban supermarket in Shanghai on Monday (Sept 30), which was the eveof China's week-long National Day holiday.

Citing a statement from theSongjiang district police, a report by the news agency said that the attacker had been detained. He was identified as a 37-year-old man surnamed Lin.

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The attack was the latest in a series of stabbing incidents in Chinese cities since the beginning of 2024.

What led to the attack?

According to the police, Lin was motivated by a personal financial dispute and travelled to Shanghai to vent his anger.

According to a report by the South China Morning Post (SCMP), videos circulating on social media showeda child was among those attacked, along with several passers-by in the supermarket, some of whom could be seen lying on the ground covered in blood.

The SCMP report said that all victims were quickly taken to a hospital, where three succumbed to their injuries. Those injured were not in a life-threatening condition.

An investigation was launched into the incident.

A recent rise in public stabbings

Public stabbing incidents have risen over the years in China, with authorities often blaming mental illness. Children at schools are a common target.

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This incident in Shanghai came weeks after a 10-year-old Japanese student was fatally stabbed by an attacker metres from his school in Shenzhen.

On June 24, a man attackedpeople at a bus station in Suzhou resulting in one Chinese and two Japanese people being injured. The suspect was apprehended at the scene.

(With inputs from agencies)