Four US academics stabbed to death in park during China visit, US officials say | China

Four US university professors teaching in China were stabbed while visiting a public park, US authorities said.

The teachers at Cornell College in Iowa were with a faculty member from Beihua University in the park in northeast China’s Jilin province on Monday when the attack occurred, college President Jonathan Brand said in a statement. The private college in Iowa partners with the university near the city of Jilin.

It is unclear how far the group’s injuries were and whether the attack in broad daylight was deliberate or accidental.

Iowa state Rep. Adam Zabner told US media that his brother David Zabner was among the group visiting a temple in Beishan Park when they were attacked by a man with a knife. David Zabner “was injured in the arm in a knife attack while visiting a temple in the Chinese city of Jilin,” he told Reuters, and is currently recovering in hospital.

“I spoke to David a few minutes ago, he is recovering from his injuries and doing well. My family is incredibly grateful that David survived this attack,” added Adam Zabner.

On Monday, a video of people lying on the ground in a park covered in blood circulated on X. However, there was no trace of the images on Chinese social media.

Reuters was able to determine the location using background information in the footage, but could not confirm when the video was recorded.

No comments have been made by Chinese authorities regarding the incident, nor have there been any reports in Chinese media.

The Foreign Ministry said in a statement that it was aware of the reports of the stabbing and was monitoring the situation.

Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds wrote on X that she was in contact with the U.S. State Department about the “horrific” attack, adding: “Please pray for their full recovery, their safe return, and for their families here at home.”

Rep. Ashley Hinson of Iowa wrote online: “Horrified to hear that several Cornell College faculty members have been brutally stabbed in China. My team is in contact with Cornell College and will do everything in our power to bring these Iowans home safely.”

U.S. Rep. Mariannette Jane Miller-Meeks of Iowa said she was trying to reach the U.S. Embassy to ensure the victims received good medical care and could return to the U.S. as soon as possible.

The attack came amid Beijing and Washington’s efforts to maintain people-to-people exchanges to prevent a deterioration in bilateral relations.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has unveiled a plan to invite 50,000 young Americans to China over the next five years, but Chinese diplomats say a U.S. State Department travel warning is deterring Americans from visiting China.

Citing arbitrary detentions as well as travel bans that could prevent Americans from leaving the country, the State Department has issued a Level 3 travel advisory – the second-highest level of alert – for mainland China and is urging Americans to “reconsider travel there.” Some American universities have suspended their China programs due to the travel advisory.

According to US data, fewer than 900 American exchange students study in China, compared to more than 290,000 Chinese students in the US.

With Associated Press and Reuters