Dozens were killed and scores injured in a shocking SUV attack in Zhuhai, a city in southern China, on Monday evening. Survivors of the incident, which occurred on a popular exercise trail, describe scenes of horror and disbelief, with one witness likening the impact of the attack to an earthquake. The incident has sparked national grief, local mourning, and waves of criticism directed at authorities over safety, transparency, and the perpetrator’s motives.
The attack took place around 7:30 p.m. on November 11 as hundreds of local residents were exercising along a fitness trail outside a local sports stadium in Zhuhai. Survivors say the quiet evening atmosphere was shattered when a dark SUV tore through the crowd at an estimated speed of 70 to 80 km/h. “It felt like an earthquake,” said a 47-year-old man who identified himself only by his surname, Chen. The vehicle, seemingly out of nowhere, approached the group from behind, and without slowing down, plowed through them.
Chen narrowly escaped by leaping into nearby shrubbery. Many of his companions, especially those positioned toward the center of the group, were not as fortunate. The horrifying crash resulted in the deaths of 35 people, with 43 others sustaining injuries. The toll could have been even higher if not for the sparse numbers of minors present that evening, as one citizen journalist noted.
“Most of my exercise friends had no chance to react,” Chen recounted, his voice filled with disbelief and grief. “If I had been standing in my usual spot, I wouldn’t be here.”
The massacre has left Zhuhai residents shaken and in mourning. Crowds have been seen gathering at local blood donation centers, with many residents hoping to contribute to the recovery of those hospitalized. Outside the sports stadium where the attack took place, delivery workers and residents from neighboring cities arrived to lay flowers, lighting incense in memory of the victims. The outpouring of grief, however, has been marred by tight restrictions imposed by local authorities, who have prohibited the media from documenting the scenes outside the stadium gates.
Several eyewitnesses attempted to share accounts and images of the scene on social media, but their posts were quickly deleted by online censors. Even a photo album published by the respected news outlet Caixin, which depicted the flower-laying ceremony, was removed. Authorities have not provided reasons for these deletions, further intensifying public frustration.
Local police auxiliaries were reportedly taking flowers left by the public to a newly established mourning hall—accessible only to the victims’ families. As Chen somberly laid flowers outside the stadium, he reflected on the diverse group of people who were exercising that evening: young and old, friends, colleagues, and strangers bound by a shared commitment to fitness and community. “The people killed were from all walks of life, people I’ve known for years,” Chen added.
As the injured were transported to nearby hospitals, security was noticeably heightened. Plainclothes police stood watch outside medical facilities, restricting access to the media and non-family members. Members of Chen’s exercise group, however, were granted access to visit their hospitalized friends.
One man, identified as Lai, rushed to the stadium upon learning of the attack to search for his mother, a regular attendee of dance sessions at the complex. She was unharmed, but Lai was shaken, describing the scene as “terrifying” and struggling to accept the reality of what had happened. “I’ve lived here for 30 years, and it’s hard to believe something like this could happen in our city,” he said.
Police investigations identified the driver as a 62-year-old man named Fan, who they say was motivated by anger over a contentious divorce settlement. In a tragic end to his rampage, Fan reportedly attempted to take his own life with a knife and has been in a coma since the attack.
Authorities released the information nearly a day after the incident, a delay that has prompted questions from both the public and social media users about transparency. Some individuals online have even questioned how authorities determined Fan’s motive while he remains unconscious. Critics have also voiced concerns over safety measures and the decision to allow vehicles near the exercise area.
The attack has elicited an immediate response from Chinese leaders, with President Xi Jinping denouncing the incident as “extremely vicious” and urging local authorities to provide maximum support to the injured. President Xi further directed that the perpetrator, should he survive, face severe punishment.
At the same time, the response from Chinese officials has reignited the public debate about safety and security in public spaces, especially in densely populated areas like Zhuhai. The incident marks a rare but devastating form of mass violence in China, which has relatively low rates of violent crime compared to many other countries. However, vehicular attacks are not entirely unprecedented, having occurred sporadically over the past decade.
In 2013, a Jeep crashed into a crowd near Beijing’s Tiananmen Square, killing five and injuring over 30. In 2018, a man drove his car into a crowd in Hunan Province, killing 11 people and injuring dozens more. Each of these incidents was reportedly motivated by grievances against society or personal matters—echoing the motivations suggested by police in the Zhuhai case
In the immediate aftermath of the attack, citizen journalists and local social media users took to platforms like Weibo to share footage, eyewitness accounts, and information on the incident. Videos circulated widely, depicting chaotic scenes as emergency responders tended to the injured and distraught survivors helped each other.
Many of these posts were swiftly removed by government censors, sparking frustration among netizens who argued that transparency is essential in helping communities process and respond to such tragedies. “People have the right to know what’s happening in their own city,” one social media user commented before the post was deleted. The government’s tendency to control narratives in times of crisis, particularly concerning incidents of violence, is not new and remains a contentious issue within Chinese society.
The victims of Monday night’s attack included people from all backgrounds: retirees, working professionals, students, and parents. Although authorities have refrained from releasing an official list of names, survivors like Chen have shared some details about those lost, describing them as “kind-hearted, peaceful” people.
The growing display of flowers and tributes outside the stadium, however, is increasingly becoming a point of tension between mourners and authorities. Police, tasked with maintaining order and preventing “foreign forces with malicious intentions” from exploiting the tragedy, have been active in removing flowers and discouraging crowds. Despite these efforts, residents continue to gather in defiance of restrictions, eager to pay their respects and mourn openly.
One unidentified auxiliary police officer told mourners to “think of the big picture,” cautioning that unauthorized memorial gatherings could be exploited by those outside the country. This stance, while meant to ensure public security, has deepened the rift between grieving residents and the government’s approach to managing the aftermath.
The devastating attack has left a city in grief, its residents struggling to reconcile the horrors of what happened with the reality of their daily lives. Many now question the safety of shared spaces and the protective measures in place to prevent such tragedies. Calls for tighter security, improved surveillance, and restricted vehicle access to pedestrian areas have gained momentum online, reflecting a desire to prevent similar incidents in the future.
For survivors like Chen, the loss is not just personal but collective—a shared trauma that has shattered a close-knit community. “We went there to walk, to be healthy together,” he said, his voice breaking. “Now, every step on that path will remind me of those we lost.”
While Zhuhai mourns, residents and officials alike are left with hard questions about security, transparency, and the support systems available to grieving communities. In a nation where public expressions of grief are often subject to government regulation, the attack has cast a spotlight on the importance of open dialogue and communal support in times of crisis. For now, the city remains vigilant, its residents united in grief and determination to remember those lost in an act of inexplicable violence.
