A Chinese man attacked a group of children with a knife while they were on their way to a daycare center in Switzerland in 2024, injuring three children. On September 18, 2026, the man was sentenced to 15 years in prison.
According to the Swiss news agency Keystone-ATS, the man was convicted of attempted murder by a court in Zurich, where the incident took place. He plans to appeal the verdict. The identity of the man has not been disclosed by the media.
The attack occurred on October 1, 2024, in a residential street in the Oerlikon district in the northern part of Zurich, Switzerland’s largest city.
A 23-year-old Chinese man assaulted several children who were walking to the daycare center. Three five-year-old boys were injured and taken to the hospital.
A daycare center staff member who was with the children managed to subdue the attacker with the help of a passerby, leading to his immediate arrest.
During the trial, the Chinese man admitted his guilt. It was reported that he had been studying in Switzerland since mid-2023.
The court judge described the man’s actions as “cruel and callous” with “no regard for human life.”
His defense lawyer, based on a psychiatric report, argued that the man had mental health issues at the time of the attack and should not be held fully responsible for his actions, pleading for an acquittal.
In court on September 17, the man claimed that three weeks before the attack, he heard a voice instructing him to kill children in his head.
The prosecution rejected this testimony, stating that the man had not previously mentioned this to investigators.
The prosecution maintained that the man had meticulously planned the attack over several weeks.
It was reported that in August 2024, the man had inquired with ChatGPT about the criminal consequences of randomly stabbing victims and provided instructions on human anatomy.
A daycare center worker named Mirco Bruhwiler, aged 38, who works near the scene of the incident, rushed out upon hearing screams and apprehended the suspect until police arrived.
Bruhwiler stated that he heard children’s cries for help, which was unusual as they usually sang while passing by.
“The assailant remained calm after being stopped. I felt I had to hold onto him so he wouldn’t run away, so I grabbed him tightly,” Bruhwiler said.
Another staff member from a day care center used their foot to pin down the knife used by the attacker.
Incidents of stabbing are rare in Switzerland, especially those involving children. However, in China, there has been a significant increase in such attacks in recent years, including deadly assaults targeting schools.
Local media outlet “The Local” reported that although the suspect’s name has not been disclosed by authorities, it was revealed that he was a master’s student at the University of Zurich living in student accommodation near the campus.
Before the attack, on October 1, the suspect posted a lengthy text on social media. In the post, he first described fantasies about a woman, expressing longing for her and reminiscing about their time together, before mentioning his pro-communist affiliations.
The media raised questions about the significance of the attack taking place on China’s National Day, October 1.
Students who knew the suspect expressed shock at his behavior, especially because they found him quiet and introverted in normal circumstances.