China has executed two men convicted of carrying out deadly attacks in November 2024 that left dozens dead and injured, state media reported on Monday.
The first attacker, Fan Weiqu, a 62-year-old man, was executed for ramming his car into a crowd outside a sports stadium in Zhuhai, in southern China, killing at least 35 people and seriously injuring 43 others.
Authorities stated that Fan was motivated by grievances stemming from a divorce settlement. The attack, described by state media as the deadliest in China in more than a decade, occurred on the eve of Zhuhai’s annual premier aviation exhibition hosted by the People’s Liberation Army.
The second execution was of Xu Jiajin, a 21-year-old man who carried out a stabbing spree at his vocational school in Wuxi, eastern China. Xu killed eight people and injured 17 others after reportedly becoming distraught over failing his exams, which prevented him from graduating. Police indicated he was also dissatisfied with his pay at an internship.
Both men were sentenced to death by intermediate people’s courts in December 2024, and their sentences were approved by the Supreme People’s Court before their executions on Monday.
President Xi Jinping urged local governments to implement measures to prevent future incidents of “revenge on society crimes.”
These crimes, which often target random individuals, have drawn attention to underlying social issues, such as economic frustrations, high unemployment, and social dissatisfaction. Local officials have pledged to identify and address personal disputes that could escalate into violent acts, including marital conflicts and financial grievances.
China classifies death penalty statistics as a state secret, but some human rights organizations estimate that the country executes thousands annually. Executions are traditionally carried out by gunshot.
