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Driver in China's Zhuhai car ramming attack sentenced to death, Xinhua reports

07:49 am on 28 December 2024

A police car at the Zhuhai Sports Centre, a day after a car rammed through the site killing dozens in Zhuhai, in south China's Guangdong province on 12 November. Photo: HECTOR RETAMAL/AFP

The driver who rammed his car into a crowd in southern China's Zhuhai city, killing at least 35 people, has been sentenced to death, China's official Xinhua News Agency reported.

The attack on 11 November was one of the deadliest attacks in contemporary Chinese history.

Fan Weiqiu, discontented with how property was divided in his divorce, "deliberately drove into the crowd to vent his anger", Xinhua said, citing findings of the court.

Fan's vehicle hit people who were exercising at a local sports centre, causing serious casualties, Xinhua reported, adding that Fan admitted to his guilt.

A spate of violent attacks has recently raised questions about public safety in China, where citizens have long been proud of streets safe from violence.

A driver who on 19 November ploughed his car into students and pedestrians in Changde, a city in southern China, has been handed a death sentence with a two-year reprieve, Chinese state television CCTV reported on Monday.

- Reuters