China Executes Two Men Amid Rising Revenge Crimes

Deadly November attacks highlight surge in societal revenge crimes
By Newser.AI Read our AI policy
Posted Jan 20, 2025 6:49 AM CST
China Executes Two Men Amid Rising Revenge Crimes
Police vehicles part in front of the Wuxi Vocational Institute of Arts and Technology in Yixing, eastern Chinese city of Wuxi on Nov. 17, 2024, a day after a stabbing attack took place.   (Kyodo News via AP, File)

China executed two men on Monday for committing murderous attacks, amplifying fears over "revenge on society crimes." Fan Weiqu, 62, drove a car into a crowd in Zhuhai last November, killing at least 35. Meanwhile, 21-year-old Xu Jiajin fatally stabbed eight people, injuring 17 others, at a vocational school in Wuxi. State media revealed the men were executed following court approvals.

Fan's attack was reportedly motivated by dissatisfaction with his divorce settlement, making it China's deadliest assault in more than a decade. Xu was discontented with his failed exam results and low internship pay. State broadcaster CCTV confirmed their executions, part of a wider call for preventative measures against such crimes by President Xi Jinping.

The two men had received death sentences from the intermediate people's courts in Zhuhai and Wuxi last December, later ratified by the Supreme People's Court. The executions highlight the severity with which China penalizes mass attacks, the true extent of which remains shrouded in government secrecy.

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Traditionally, China is believed to execute more individuals annually than all other countries combined, though official figures are not disclosed. While gunshot has been the conventional method, the use of lethal injections is increasingly prevalent. The handling of these cases underscores the state's firm stance on maintaining social order through stringent legal recourse. (This story was generated by Newser's AI chatbot. Source: the AP)

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