Four instructors from Iowa’s Cornell College are in the hospital after a stabbing incident at a public park in China, according to a statement from the college. The attack took place during a daytime visit to Beishan Park in Jilin city, located in the northern province of Jilin.
Iowa Representative Adam Zabner confirmed that his brother, David Zabner, was among the victims. The group was visiting a local temple when an unknown assailant attacked them with a knife. David Zabner sustained a stab wound to his arm and is currently recovering in the hospital. “He has not yet been released this morning but he’s doing okay,” Representative Zabner told CBS News.
A spokesperson for the US State Department acknowledged reports of the stabbing incident but could not provide further details. The injured instructors were part of a partnership between Cornell College and a university in China, and they were accompanied by a member of Beihua University at the time of the attack.
The Chinese authorities have yet to release an official response regarding the incident. However, images depicting the aftermath, including at least three people bleeding and lying on the ground, quickly spread on social media before being censored. Searches for terms related to the incident, such as “foreigners Jilin,” yielded no results on Chinese platforms like Weibo, despite the topic trending. Internet users resorted to discussing the event under adjacent topics and sought more information about the attack.
Reports about the incident have been scarce in Chinese state media. David Zabner, a doctoral student at Tufts University, was on his second trip to China with Cornell College.
This incident occurs amid efforts by Beijing and Washington to improve diplomatic relations and promote cultural exchanges. Chinese President Xi Jinping recently announced a plan to invite 50,000 young Americans to China over the next five years. Meanwhile, Chinese diplomats have noted that a travel advisory from the US State Department has discouraged Americans from visiting China.
As the situation develops, updates will be provided on the condition of the injured instructors and any further responses from Chinese authorities.