27th December 2024 – (Zhuhai) A court in Zhuhai, Guangdong province, has sentenced 62-year-old Fan Wei-qiu to death for his deliberate vehicle attack that resulted in the deaths of 35 people and injuries to 43 others. The Intermediate People’s Court delivered the verdict on 27 December, convicting Fan of endangering public safety.
The incident occurred on the evening of 11th November when Fan drove his SUV into a crowd exercising at a sports complex in the city’s Xiangzhou District. According to court findings, Fan’s actions were motivated by personal grievances, specifically dissatisfaction with the division of assets following his divorce.
During the trial, prosecutors presented evidence while both the defence and prosecution provided their statements. Fan ultimately confessed to the charges. The court characterised his motives as exceptionally heinous, noting the extreme nature of the crime and its severe repercussions on public safety.
Initial police reports from the day of the event did not confirm fatalities, but subsequent state media updates revealed the tragic toll. Eyewitness accounts described the chaotic scene, with individuals desperately attempting to revive victims as the vehicle circled the exercise track.
The incident has sparked a public outcry, with local residents paying tribute at the site. However, memorials were swiftly removed by authorities, reportedly under orders from higher officials, although some items were relocated to a designated mourning hall within the complex.
