On Tuesday, June 11th, an American teacher who was stabbed at Beishan Park in Jilin City, Jilin Province, China, was interviewed by American media, recounting the entire traumatic incident. The individual stated that Chinese police informed them that the assailant was unemployed and had bad luck.
David Zabner, a teacher from Cornell College dispatched to China for an exchange program, was interviewed by Iowa Public Radio. He is the brother of Adam Zabner, a member of the Iowa House of Representatives, and this was his second visit to China.
Zabner described how as they were descending the mountain, they suddenly heard a scream behind them. He turned around to see a man waving a knife at him, charging towards him. Zabner initially didn’t realize what was happening, thinking his colleague had been pushed before realizing he himself had been stabbed.
“I was wounded, bleeding,” he said.
Photos and videos of the incident started circulating on Chinese social media sites, although most of them were censored and deleted by the Chinese authorities.
In one photo, Zabner is seen lying on his side, grimacing in pain. Approximately 20 minutes after being stabbed, medical personnel arrived. In the photo, another teacher can be seen behind him, with blood flowing from their back. In a separate video, Zabner can be heard trying to call home.
Zabner’s arm was stabbed six inches from the shoulder. As of Tuesday morning, he and his three colleagues who were also attacked were still receiving treatment at a nearby hospital.
On Monday morning, Zabner and his three colleagues had originally planned to watch Dragon Boat Festival activities at the Songhua River. Finding the riverside crowded, they opted to stroll in the nearby Beishan Park.
“This is a beautiful green mountainous park in central Jilin, with some Buddhist temples and lovely walking paths. From the mountaintop, you can enjoy the scenic view of the city,” he said.
Since 2018, Cornell College has been collaborating with Beihua University in Jilin City, China. Zabner first joined the program in 2019 to teach computer science courses during the cold November in Jilin City, similar to winters in Iowa.
“I was really excited to see Jilin in the summer,” he said.
So he returned to China in 2024 to teach. In his free time, he would go sightseeing.
Zabner cited information provided by the Chinese police about the case, stating, “The police told us that he (referring to the assailant) was unemployed, had bad luck, and someone in our group bumped into him. Then he decided to respond in his own way.”
The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Tuesday labeled the stabbing of the four Cornell College teachers in Jilin as a “random event,” followed by an announcement from the Jilin Public Security Bureau stating that a suspect named Cui had been swiftly arrested.
According to a police report issued by the Chuanying Sub-bureau of the Jilin Public Security Bureau on the evening of June 11th, a stabbing incident occurred at Beishan Park in Chuanying District, Jilin City, at 11:49 on June 10th.
The report stated that during a walk in Beishan Park, Cui, a 55-year-old man from Longtan District, Jilin City, collided with a foreigner, subsequently stabbing the foreigner, three other foreign companions, and a Chinese tourist who tried to intervene.
Since Monday, related photos and discussions about the attack have been promptly removed. Official notifications from Chinese TV stations, newspapers, and websites have remained unchanged.
Even unofficial reports by media outlets such as Fenghuang.net and NetEase, quoting a tweet by Hu Xijin, former editor-in-chief of the Global Times, attempting to justify the incident, have all shown error pages.
By Tuesday afternoon, following the Chinese government’s official stance on the matter, internet censorship had slightly eased, with a few comments beginning to surface.
Some Chinese netizens described the event as “horrifying,” while others questioned why the Chinese media did not report on the attack. Against the backdrop of rising nationalism and anti-American sentiment in China, some expressed concerns about how the attack might impact China’s global image and foreigners’ willingness to travel to the country.
Although firearms are strictly controlled in China, knife attacks are not uncommon. The country has seen a series of stabbing incidents in public places like schools and hospitals. However, public attacks targeting foreigners are rare.
“Four foreigners escorted by locals strolling in the park, even if there was a collision, it should have been resolved by the escorts, why did their assailant target the foreigners? And in this Chinese environment, who goes out carrying a knife?” a Chinese netizen commented on social media.
Some questioned the police statement that stated, “No matter who collided with whom, Westerners are accustomed to saying sorry and wouldn’t engage in arguments. The incident was either intentional provocation or the report is inaccurate.”
Adam Zabner, during an earlier interview with CNN on Tuesday, mentioned that his brother David Zabner is currently in a “stable condition,” with his wounds stitched up and in recovery.
Adam expressed gratitude that his brother and the other three victims survived the attack, refraining from commenting on their health conditions.
He told CNN, “I am grateful that my brother safely survived the attack. Our family’s hope is to get my brother home as soon as possible and aid his recovery. We want to thank all the help provided by the US State Department and the federal delegation from Iowa, who have been particularly helpful.”
State officials and the congressional delegation from Iowa have been in contact with Zabner’s family.
Congresswoman Ashley Hinson, whose district includes Cornell College, issued a statement expressing her team’s efforts to bring the Iowans home. “My team has been in contact with Cornell College, and we are doing everything we can to get these Iowans back safely. Wishing everyone a safe return home,” she stated.
Zabner’s family resides in the district of Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks.
In a statement, Miller-Meeks mentioned that her office is working with the US Embassy to ensure that all four victims receive the necessary medical treatment and safely depart from China.
David Zabner expressed gratitude to the concern and prayers from the American public, as well as the assistance from the US Consulate and the Iowa congressional delegation. He indicated he looks forward to returning to Iowa soon.