Chinese police have arrested a 55-year-old man following a rare attack on foreigners that left four American university instructors injured at a public park in Jilin province. The victims, all faculty members from Iowa’s Cornell College, were stabbed by the assailant during a daytime visit to Beishan Park, according to a statement from the college.
The incident, described as a “serious” attack, has placed the instructors in the hospital, though none are in life-threatening condition, according to China’s foreign ministry. The assailant, identified only by the surname Cui, reportedly clashed with one of the Americans before stabbing them and subsequently injuring three other US visitors and a Chinese tourist who attempted to intervene.
Iowa Representative Adam Zabner confirmed that his brother, David, was among the injured. David Zabner, a doctoral student at Tufts University, was stabbed in the arm but is reported to be recovering well in the hospital. “My family is incredibly grateful that David survived this attack,” Representative Zabner told the BBC. “We’d like to see David home in Iowa as soon as possible. We’re deeply thankful to the state department and Iowa’s federal delegation and understand that they are working hard to make that happen.”
The instructors were in China as part of a teaching partnership between Cornell College and Beihua University. They were accompanied by a member of Beihua University at the time of the attack.
China’s foreign ministry quickly responded, emphasizing the prompt medical attention provided to the victims and describing the attack as an isolated incident. “This was an isolated incident and the investigation continues,” said spokesperson Lin Jian. “China is widely considered one of the safest countries in the world and China will continue to take relevant measures to ensure that foreigners are safe in the country.” He added that the incident is not expected to harm international relations.
The US State Department has acknowledged awareness of the incident but has not released further details. Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds expressed her concern on social media, calling the attack “horrifying” and asking for prayers for the victims’ recovery and safe return.
Images of the aftermath, showing at least three people bleeding and lying on the ground, have circulated online but were swiftly censored on Chinese social media. Discussions about the incident have been redirected under related topics due to restricted searches on platforms like Weibo.
Online commentator Hu Xijin, former chief editor of China’s Global Times, referred to the attack as a “chance event” and emphasized that Chinese people are generally friendly toward foreigners. His post has since been removed.
The incident comes amid efforts by Beijing and Washington to improve people-to-people exchanges. Chinese President Xi Jinping recently announced a plan to invite 50,000 young Americans to China over the next five years, despite a travel advisory from the US State Department that has reportedly discouraged American visits to China.
Cornell College has had a partnership with Beihua University since 2018, focusing on disciplines such as computer science, mathematics, and physics. This collaboration allows Cornell professors to teach part of their courses in China over a two-week period. Beihua University, located in the city of Jilin, serves 24,000 students.
As the investigation continues, authorities are working to understand the motives behind the attack and ensure the safety of all foreigners in the country.