Four Cornell College professors stabbed to death in attack in Chinese park: US authorities | News

The group was on its way to visit a partner university in the northeastern Chinese province of Jilin and was attacked while visiting a temple.

Four American lecturers at a small university in Iowa were injured in a knife attack in a public park in the northeastern Chinese province of Jilin, US media and US government officials report.

Iowa House Representative Adam Zabner told Reuters on Monday that his brother was one of the victims, all of whom attend Cornell College.

“My brother, David Zabner, was injured in a knife attack in the arm while visiting a temple in the Chinese city of Jilin,” he said.

The group was visiting a temple in Beishan Park when they were attacked by a man with a knife, he added. There was no information about a motive.

A video of blood-soaked people lying on the ground in a park circulated on social media platform X on Monday. However, none of the images appeared on Chinese social media. Reuters was able to identify the location based on Chinese characters on a wall, the structure of the wall and the path. Reuters could not confirm when the video was taken.

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

“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,” said Adam Zabner.

The Cornell College tutors visited Beihua, a partner university in the city of Jilin.

Cornell College said the teaching was done “as part of a partnership with a university in China.”

“We are using the appropriate channels and requesting to discuss appropriate matters with the U.S. Embassy to ensure that the victims first receive quality treatment for their injuries and then are able to leave China in a medically feasible manner,” Iowa Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks wrote on X.

Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds wrote on X that she was in contact with the U.S. State Department about the “horrific” attack.

College spokeswoman Jen Visser told CNN that the U.S. State Department was aware of reports of a knife incident in China and was monitoring the situation.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has pledged this year to invite 50,000 young Americans to study in China to strengthen people-to-people ties. However, a US State Department Level 3 travel advisory for China, warning of possible arbitrary detentions and travel bans, remains in place.

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