HONG KONG, CHINA – In a tragic turn of events, a knife attack at an educational institution in eastern China has left eight people dead and 17 others injured, marking another grim chapter in a week already marred by violence. The assault occurred on Saturday evening in Yixing, Jiangsu Province, as confirmed by local authorities.
The Yixing Public Security Bureau is currently leading the investigation, focusing on understanding the motives behind the attack while ensuring the injured receive necessary medical care. Arrested at the scene was a 21-year-old former student, identified by his surname Xu. The suspect, previously enrolled at the Wuxi Vocational Institute of Arts and Technology, reportedly acted out of frustration, according to police statements.
Xu’s grievances stemmed from academic setbacks and dissatisfaction with his internship compensation, which reportedly fueled his violent outburst. Authorities stated that Xu confessed openly to the attack, acknowledging his actions and the motivations behind them.
In the digital realm, a video purportedly showing the aftermath of the attack circulated briefly online, depicting victims on the ground with visible injuries. However, discussions about the incident were quickly curtailed on Weibo, China’s prominent social media platform, as censorship measures swiftly took effect, erasing the topic from trending lists.
Public reaction on social media was swift, with users expressing horror and questioning the decision to suppress information. “Suppressing the trending topic won’t change the tragedy,” one user lamented, reflecting widespread sentiment about the handling of such incidents.
This attack is part of a disturbing pattern of violence in China, coinciding with socioeconomic pressures. The Ministry of Education recently projected a record 12.22 million university graduates in 2025, amidst a backdrop of a challenging job market. Youth unemployment has been a significant concern, with the rate peaking at 21.3% in 2023, prompting authorities to revise their statistical methods.
Earlier in the week, China witnessed its deadliest mass killing in nearly a decade when a 62-year-old man drove a car into a crowd in Zhuhai, claiming 35 lives and injuring 43 others. This incident, along with other recent attacks in major cities, has sparked conversations about the mental health and societal pressures faced by individuals in the world’s second-largest economy.
In recent months, other violent episodes have occurred, including a knife attack in Shanghai and the tragic stabbing of a young Japanese boy in Shenzhen, highlighting a troubling trend of public safety concerns.