35 dead after car plows into crowd in China

At least 35 people were killed and 43 others injured after a man drove into a crowd training at a stadium in Zhuhai, southern China on Monday, authorities say.

A 62-year-old male driver, The man, identified as Mr Fan, drove his SUV through a barrier at the Zhuhai Sports Center in what local police said was a “serious and vicious attack”.

Chinese media report that many older people as well as young people and children were among the injured. Police said the driver was arrested while attempting to escape and was in a coma due to self-inflicted wounds.

Amid reports that the incident is being censored online in China, BBC journalists have been ordered to stop filming when reporting from the stadium on Tuesday.

Most videos of the incident shared by witnesses had been deleted from Chinese social media by Tuesday morning, but some footage still available online showed dozens of people lying on the ground being tended to by medics and bystanders.

Chinese President Xi Jinping called for “comprehensive efforts” to treat the injured and “severe punishment” for the perpetrator.

The incident came amid increased security in Zhuhai, where a major international military air show is taking place this week.

Initial investigations suggested the attack was sparked by Mr Fan's dissatisfaction over a divorce property settlement. Since he is still in a coma, he has yet to be questioned, according to police.

In China, it is common for stadiums to be regularly used as training grounds by locals.

An eyewitness, Mr Chen, told Chinese news magazine Caixin that at least six groups were in the stadium on their regular walks at the time of the incident.

The groups use a designated hiking trail that runs along the perimeter of the stadium.

Mr. Chen said his group had just completed its third lap around the stadium when a car suddenly rushed toward them at high speed, “knocking down a lot of people.”

“It went in a loop and people were injured in all areas of the running route – east, south, west and north,” another eyewitness told Caixin.

The incident occurred 40 km (24 miles) from another venue where the high-profile China Airshow began on Tuesday.

China is showcasing its latest fighter jets and attack drones at the show, which is also expected to include senior Russian defense official and former Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu.

Several entrances and exits to the sports center were closed during the air show to facilitate “control,” the center’s management said on Tuesday.

China has seen a spate of violent attacks on the population in recent months.

In October, five people were injured in a knife attack at a top school in Beijing, and in September a man carried out an attack a knife attack in a supermarket in ShanghaiThree people were killed and several others were injured.

Even in September, A 10-year-old Japanese student died a day after he was stabbed near his school in southern China.

After Monday's car attack, the Japanese embassy warned its nationals living in the country not to speak Japanese loudly in public.