Beijing, June 11, 2024 — Four American instructors from a small Iowa university were injured in a stabbing attack in a public park in Jilin City, located in northeast China’s Jilin province, on Monday. The incident has prompted an investigation into the attacker’s motive, according to Chinese officials.
The alleged assault took place shortly before noon in Beishan Park, Jilin City, police reported. A 55-year-old local man, identified only by his surname Cui, was detained on the same day.
“Cui collided with a foreigner while walking in Beishan Park, and subsequently stabbed the foreigner and three fellow foreigners with a knife, as well as a Chinese tourist who attempted to intervene,” Jilin City police stated on social media. Authorities confirmed that the victims’ injuries were not life-threatening.
On Tuesday, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian stated that police currently believe the attack to be random, though investigations are ongoing. “All the injured individuals were immediately taken to the hospital and received appropriate critical care,” Lin assured.
The ministry emphasized that the incident would “not affect normal people-to-people exchanges between China and the United States,” and affirmed that measures would be taken to ensure the safety of foreigners in China. US officials expressed deep concern over the attack. The State Department confirmed it was in touch with local authorities and closely monitoring the situation.
“We are deeply concerned by the stabbing of US citizens in Jilin City, China,” White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan wrote on X (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday. “Our team has been in touch with these Americans and our PRC counterparts to ensure that the victims’ needs are met, and appropriate law enforcement steps are being taken. We wish them a speedy recovery.”
The names of the victims have not been released. However, Representative Adam Zabner of the Iowa Legislature revealed that his brother was among the victims. The injured Americans are instructors from Cornell College in Mount Vernon, Iowa, a small liberal arts college located about 15 miles east of Cedar Rapids.
As the investigation continues, the incident has raised concerns about the safety of foreigners in China, though officials on both sides are working to manage the situation and ensure the well-being of the victims and the broader community.