Suspect confesses to stabbing; Chinese media speak of “accident”

BEIJING: The suspect in the fatal stabbing attack of a 10-year-old Japanese student in the city of Shenzhen has admitted carrying out the attack, which Chinese state media say was “accidental”.

This is believed to be the first time a Chinese media outlet has reported details about the suspect and the September 18 incident.

The 44-year-old man acted alone and does not have a regular job, the report says. In addition, he has a criminal record and has been in administrative detention in the past: for destroying a public facility in 2015 and disturbing public order by spreading false information in 2019.

According to the report, the man admitted during police questioning that he had injured the boy with a knife. No motive was given.

The boy was attacked at 7:55 a.m. while on his way to school with his family.

A member of the medical team told reporters: “At 8:05 a.m., an ambulance arrived at the scene to provide first aid. After his heartbeat returned, we sent him to the operating room.”

The boy was pronounced dead in the hospital.