A deadly car attack in Zhuhai, China, which claimed the lives of 35 people, has reignited concerns over public violence and societal frustration. The incident occurred on Monday night, when a driver, reportedly angered by a divorce settlement, intentionally rammed his vehicle into crowds at a stadium.
This event, believed to be China’s deadliest known act of violence in decades, follows a disturbing trend of Fatal Car attack in recent months, including a knife attack at a Beijing school and a stabbing spree at a Shanghai supermarket.
The attack has sparked widespread discussions on social media about a growing social phenomenon known as "taking revenge on society." This term describes individuals who lash out against strangers due to personal grievances. Meanwhile, Chinese authorities have been censoring discussions about the incident, limiting public debate on the root causes of such violence
In the wake of the deadly car attack in Zhuhai, which claimed 35 lives, President Xi Jinping has vowed "severe punishment" for the 62-year-old driver responsible. Police confirmed that the driver, who acted out of anger over a divorce settlement, is currently in a coma due to self-inflicted injuries.
The attack, which shocked the nation, has sparked an outpouring of reactions on Chinese social media, with many questioning whether the incident reflects broader societal issues.
One viral Weibo post asked, "How can you take revenge on society because your family life is not going well? You've taken the lives of so many innocent people, will you ever have peace of mind?"
Many users have connected the attack to growing societal pressures, including job insecurity and the struggle to survive, arguing that such stress could lead to increased hostility and violence. "If there is a widespread lack of job security... then society is bound to be full of problems, hostility, and terror," one comment on WeChat said.
This attack follows a series of violent incidents in China this year, including a mass stabbing in Shandong that killed 21 people in February, a knife attack at a Beijing school in October, and a stabbing spree at a Shanghai supermarket in September.
These events have fueled discussions about the underlying social issues contributing to the rise in such indiscriminate attacks. Many are calling for a deeper examination of the factors driving these acts of violence.
In the wake of the deadly car attack in Zhuhai, which claimed 35 lives, President Xi Jinping has vowed "severe punishment" for the 62-year-old driver responsible. Police confirmed that the driver, who acted out of anger over a divorce settlement, is currently in a coma due to self-inflicted injuries.
The attack, which shocked the nation, has sparked an outpouring of reactions on Chinese social media, with many questioning whether the incident reflects broader societal issues.
One viral Weibo post asked, "How can you take revenge on society because your family life is not going well? You've taken the lives of so many innocent people, will you ever have peace of mind?"
Many users have connected the attack to growing societal pressures, including job insecurity and the struggle to survive, arguing that such stress could lead to increased hostility and violence. "If there is a widespread lack of job security... then society is bound to be full of problems, hostility, and terror," one comment on WeChat said.
This attack follows a series of violent incidents in China this year, including a mass stabbing in Shandong that killed 21 people in February, a knife attack at a Beijing school in October, and a stabbing spree at a Shanghai supermarket in September.
These events have fueled discussions about the underlying social issues contributing to the rise in such indiscriminate attacks. Many are calling for a deeper examination of the factors driving these acts of violence.
The Zhuhai car attack, which left 35 dead, has notably been absent from China's daily newspapers, despite being one of the deadliest public acts of violence in years. On social media, many have shared deeply emotional stories, including one from a user whose mother was severely injured in the attack and is now in the ICU.
The user shared that it remains uncertain whether their mother will survive, and their father, who witnessed the incident, is devastated. Despite his grief, the father continues to respond calmly to concerned phone calls.
The lack of timely updates has also been a point of criticism. According to the user, no casualty statistics or statements from the police were released for up to 10 hours after the attack. Additionally, there was a delay in confirming the full death toll, which was only announced 24 hours later.
Social media platform Weibo has also censored a hashtag related to the death toll, further stoking frustrations over the lack of transparency. Many users have voiced concerns about the government's handling of the situation, especially regarding the delayed and limited information shared with the public.