- Second attack near a Japanese school in China recently.
- Earlier in June: Four U.S. instructors were stabbed in Jilin.
- Injuries to the instructors were not critical.
- June 24: Man attacked a bus in Suzhou; a Chinese national was killed protecting a mother and child.
A 10-year-old boy attending a Japanese school in Shenzhen, China, has died after being stabbed by a 44-year-old man, according to officials from both nations. Japanese Minister of Foreign Affairs Yoko Kamikawa reported that the attack occurred around 200 meters (220 yards) from the Shenzhen Japanese School on Wednesday morning, and the child succumbed to his injuries in the early hours of Thursday.
The boy’s father is a Japanese citizen and his mother is Chinese, according to Lin Jian, spokesperson for China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. During a news briefing on Thursday, he characterized the attack as an “individual” incident and noted that “China and Japan are in communication on the case.”
Japanese Minister of Foreign Affairs Yoko Kamikawa expressed her deep concern over the incident, stating, “I take the incident extremely seriously. This should never happen in any country. Particularly, I sincerely regret that this despicable act was committed against a child on their way to school.”
Kamikawa further mentioned that Japan has requested a detailed explanation from China regarding the circumstances surrounding the attack.
Lin Jian indicated earlier that the suspected attacker was apprehended at the scene of the stabbing. He confirmed that an investigation into the incident is currently underway, with authorities working to gather more information and determine the circumstances surrounding the attack.
Kamikawa also said it was “extremely regrettable” that the student died despite requests for caution and enhanced safety around the time of the anniversary of an incident in 1931 that triggered war between China and Japan.
The “Mukden incident” led to Japan’s invasion of Manchuria.
“China expresses its regret and sadness that this kind of unfortunate incident occurred,” Lin said.
He told reporters that “similar cases could happen in any country”, adding that “China has always taken and will continue to take effective actions to ensure the safety of all foreign citizens in China”.
Previous attacks
In an email sent to Japanese citizens living in China, the Japanese embassy warned residents to be vigilant and take precautions, citing knife attacks in recent months.
The Japanese consulate in Guangzhou, which is responsible for Shenzhen, called for measures to prevent such incidents.
This incident marks the second attack near a Japanese educational facility in China in recent weeks. On June 24, a man assaulted a bus associated with a Japanese school in Suzhou, leading to the death of a Chinese national who attempted to protect a Japanese mother and her child from the attacker.
Earlier in June, a Chinese man stabbed four U.S. university instructors at a public park in Jilin, also injuring a local who tried to intervene. The instructors, from Cornell College, were teaching at Beihua University, and fortunately, their injuries were not critical.
