On the eve of the National Day holiday in China, a tragic knife attack occurred at a supermarket in Shanghai. According to official reports, the incident resulted in 3 fatalities and 15 injuries. However, sources close to the situation have revealed that the actual number of deaths could be as high as 7.
The incident took place at a Walmart supermarket in Shanghai’s Songjiang district, as described by local netizens. An employee claiming to work on the first floor of Walmart recounted how chaos erupted as people started running and blood was spotted on the floor. The assailant was said to be hiding inside the shopping mall, causing panic among witnesses who described it as a day brushing shoulders with death.
Surveillance footage from inside the supermarket shows a man brandishing two sharp knives, walking around with a look of anger on his face. Customers scattered in fear upon seeing him, and screams followed as multiple people were stabbed and injured.
Videos shared by netizens depict a man in a red shirt and jeans lying on the ground with an abdominal wound, while nearby, a woman cradling a child sits by an escalator, both stained with blood. Comments on the video suggest that even a 2-year-old baby’s neck was reportedly attacked. The severity of the injuries prompted many to be rushed to the intensive care unit for observation.
Another video shows two individuals lying on the ground, clutching their stomachs in pain with blood visibly pooling around them.
On October 1st, the Shanghai Songjiang police reported that at 9:47 pm on September 30th, they received a distress call reporting a man wielding a knife inside a supermarket on Songhui Middle Road. The suspect, identified as Lin, a 37-year-old male, had been apprehended, while 18 injured individuals were taken to the hospital with 3 succumbing to their wounds.
The police report indicated that preliminary investigations revealed Lin had acted out of personal economic disputes, venting his frustrations in Shanghai.
The police report’s lack of detail sparked discontent among netizens, with questions arising about the assailant’s motives and background. Some expressed concerns about the lack of clarity regarding the victims’ identities and whether any prior conflicts led to the attack.
The tragic event incited anger online, with many netizens condemning senseless violence and calling for accountability towards those responsible for societal issues and hardships rather than innocent bystanders. Discussions on economic pressures, mental health struggles, and the need for societal change to prevent such tragedies from recurring were prevalent among commenters.
Some users reported challenges in accessing information about the incident, suggesting censorship on social media platforms as discussions and videos related to the Walmart attack seemed to disappear suddenly, raising suspicion and further fueling public unease and questions regarding transparency in news dissemination.