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Sword-wielding man arrested attack in Beijing leaves woman dead Sword-wielding man arrested after attack in Beijing leaves woman dead
(35 minutes later)
Police have arrested a sword-wielding man following an attack that left a Chinese woman dead and a French man injured in a busy Beijing shopping district popular with expats and tourists.Police have arrested a sword-wielding man following an attack that left a Chinese woman dead and a French man injured in a busy Beijing shopping district popular with expats and tourists.
The stabbing took place on Thursday outside the flagship Beijing store of Japanese clothing retailer Uniqlo, according to reports in the Chinese media.The stabbing took place on Thursday outside the flagship Beijing store of Japanese clothing retailer Uniqlo, according to reports in the Chinese media.
The man – who police later identified as a 25-year-old called Mr Gao – was seen chasing a woman outside the shop at around midday, the Beijing Youth Daily, a government-run newspaper, reported.The man – who police later identified as a 25-year-old called Mr Gao – was seen chasing a woman outside the shop at around midday, the Beijing Youth Daily, a government-run newspaper, reported.
What happened next remains unclear but Chinese media claimed he slashed the woman and also wounded the man. Photographs and videos of the aftermath of the attack show the alleged perpetrator strolling outside the Uniqlo store armed with what appears to be a samurai katana sword.What happened next remains unclear but Chinese media claimed he slashed the woman and also wounded the man. Photographs and videos of the aftermath of the attack show the alleged perpetrator strolling outside the Uniqlo store armed with what appears to be a samurai katana sword.
Other images show an unidentified man – believed to be the victim’s husband – crouched over the woman’s body as she lies bleeding on the pavement. The victim has sustained a serious chest wound and is covered in blood but appears to still be breathing.Other images show an unidentified man – believed to be the victim’s husband – crouched over the woman’s body as she lies bleeding on the pavement. The victim has sustained a serious chest wound and is covered in blood but appears to still be breathing.
The Beijing Youth Daily reported that the woman was rushed to hospital. In a statement issued on Thursday afternoon Beijing police said the female victim, who is from Shandong province, had died. Her husband, who is French, was being treated for injuries in hospital.The Beijing Youth Daily reported that the woman was rushed to hospital. In a statement issued on Thursday afternoon Beijing police said the female victim, who is from Shandong province, had died. Her husband, who is French, was being treated for injuries in hospital.
Police began receiving reports that a man was attacking people “with a long knife” at around 11.49am on Thursday, the statement said. Officers quickly arrived at the scene and brought the suspect under control.Police began receiving reports that a man was attacking people “with a long knife” at around 11.49am on Thursday, the statement said. Officers quickly arrived at the scene and brought the suspect under control.
A video and photographs circulating on Chinese social media showed the alleged attacker voluntarily surrendering by lying down on the ground after police arrived carrying riot shields and wooden clubs.A video and photographs circulating on Chinese social media showed the alleged attacker voluntarily surrendering by lying down on the ground after police arrived carrying riot shields and wooden clubs.
The sword attack took place near Sanlitun Bar Street, a nightlife district of smoke-filled karaoke joints and late-night bars. The area is close to the Venezuelan embassy, Unicef’s local headquarters and the Opposite House, one of the Chinese capital’s best-known boutique hotels.The sword attack took place near Sanlitun Bar Street, a nightlife district of smoke-filled karaoke joints and late-night bars. The area is close to the Venezuelan embassy, Unicef’s local headquarters and the Opposite House, one of the Chinese capital’s best-known boutique hotels.
The French International School is also nearby, as is a government residential compound that is home to many foreign diplomats.The French International School is also nearby, as is a government residential compound that is home to many foreign diplomats.
Within 90 minutes of the incident, there was virtually no police presence in the area. Witnesses said they had seen officers scrubbing blood from the pavement. The only hint that an attack had taken place were the onlookers crowding around to take photographs.Within 90 minutes of the incident, there was virtually no police presence in the area. Witnesses said they had seen officers scrubbing blood from the pavement. The only hint that an attack had taken place were the onlookers crowding around to take photographs.
Police said the attacker was from Tonghua, a city in the north-eastern province of Jilin.Police said the attacker was from Tonghua, a city in the north-eastern province of Jilin.
Friends of the woman, who is thought to work as a tattoo artist in Beijing, posted messages on social media expressing their shock. Addressing the female victim one wrote: “You have to wake up and make me a tattoo, bless, my thought is with you.”Friends of the woman, who is thought to work as a tattoo artist in Beijing, posted messages on social media expressing their shock. Addressing the female victim one wrote: “You have to wake up and make me a tattoo, bless, my thought is with you.”