In a startling event in Shanghai, China, a man’s stabbing spree in a Walmart supermarket led to the death of three individuals and injuries to 15 others. The incident took place on the evening of Monday, September 30, 2024, at Ludu International Commercial Plaza, a hub of activity in the Songjiang district in southwestern Shanghai.

Chinese law enforcement agencies apprehended the attacker, a 37-year-old man known only by his surname, “Lin,” at the scene of the crime. According to the police, Lin had traveled to Shanghai to express his frustration over a personal financial disagreement. Investigations into the exact motive are still underway. Official reports confirm that the victims succumbed to their injuries in the hospital, while those wounded are projected to recover, as their injuries were not life-endangering.

An eyewitness, known as “Shi,” gave a firsthand account of the horrific scene to BBC News. Shi, who runs a jewelry store on the ground floor of the Plaza, described the arrival of several firefighters and SWAT officers who directed people to evacuate. He stated that he was initially unaware of the situation until people began to urgently vacate the area in a state of panic. Shi emphasized that the suddenness and terror of the incident caught everyone off guard and recounted his own narrow escape from harm.

The supermarket resumed operations the next day, with heightened security protocols in place. Despite stringent firearm regulations in China, there has been a disturbing increase in knife attacks, presenting a growing challenge for law enforcement agencies.

Previous incidents include a fatal attack on a 10-year-old Japanese student near his school in southern China last month. In June, four United States university instructors were stabbed in a public park in the northeastern city of Jilin. In May, a man in Yunnan, a province in southern China, stabbed two people to death and injured 21 others in a hospital.

Lin’s precise motive remains unclear, and authorities have committed to providing more information as the investigation unfolds. In the meantime, local law enforcement has amplified security measures and patrols in public spaces across the city.