Several Injured in Knife Attack in Guangzhou University District

Several people were injured in a knife attack in a busy commercial area near a university district in Guangzhou, China, on Sept. 14, according to local police and witnesses.

Police in Panyu District said they received a report at about 5:20 p.m. that a man was attacking people with a knife outside a hot pot restaurant in Xiaoguwei Subdistrict, according to state media China Central Television. Officers subsequently arrested a 35-year-old man identified only by the surname Li.

Police said the injured victims were taken for medical treatment and none had life-threatening injuries. The investigation was ongoing.

The attack occurred at GOGO New World, a commercial complex in the center of Guangzhou Higher Education Mega Center, an area surrounded by universities and typically crowded with students and other pedestrians.

Videos and photographs circulating online appeared to show several injured people at the scene. One photograph appeared to show a woman sitting on the sidewalk, with a knife visibly stuck in her face and her clothing heavily soaked with blood.

A student who said he witnessed the attack told The Epoch Times that the attacker appeared to target people randomly. He spoke on condition of anonymity out of fear of reprisal.

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“He stabbed people everywhere,” the student said. “They were all stabbed in the eyes. He stabbed seven people. It was purely revenge against society. Both men and women were stabbed, and he stabbed people randomly regardless of how many people there were.”

The student said the attacker fled quickly after the assault.

“At the time, I only saw him alone,” he said. “After killing people, he ran to the cafeteria of the school next to mine to eat. It was terrifying.”

Reports circulating online said that the attacker or attackers fled toward Guangdong University of Technology, where police later made an arrest. Some social media posts alleged that multiple attackers were involved. The Epoch Times is unable to verify the claims.

A resident of neighboring Haizhu District who said he passed through the area also told The Epoch Times on condition of anonymity that he had heard there were several attackers.

“It seemed to be near Gate 2 of Guangdong University of Technology,” the person said. “There were four attackers. I didn’t see them [coming]. I witnessed [their attack] for a minute and immediately ran away. I was afraid of dying, too.”

The person added, “They were stabbing people with knives. The attackers were inside. I was outside on an electric scooter. Were the four of them trying to accomplish some kind of task? They specifically stabbed people’s eyes.”

Social media posts also alleged that one suspect entered a Guangdong University of Technology cafeteria, ordered a bowl of food, and was detained by police while eating. Another alleged suspect entered a dormitory at Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, the posts claimed.

As of 10:30 p.m. on Sept. 14, Panyu police had identified only one suspect in their public statement—the 35-year-old man surnamed Li—and had not said that multiple perpetrators were involved.

The discrepancy between the official account and reports from witnesses and social media has fueled speculation about the actual number of attackers and their motives.

Tang Bing and Gu Xiaohua contributed to this report.