Israeli embassy staffer stabbed in Beijing
A member of the Israeli embassy staff in Beijing was stabbed by an unknown assailant. The victim is reported to be in a hospital in stable condition.
A family member of an Israeli diplomat based in China was stabbed by an unknown assailant on Friday.
The 50-year-old man was attacked outside a supermarket in Chaoyang District (in the area Zuojiazhuang), according to local police. Unverified videos on social media platforms Weibo and X (warning: graphic) show a man wrestling with the victim, stabbing him repeatedly, before staggering away.
Separate footage from street level showed people helping the bloodied victim, with a voice heard saying in Chinese, “I’m from the Israeli embassy.”
“An ambulance will be coming soon,” another voice says in English.
The Israeli Foreign Ministry said in a statement that the victim is receiving medical treatment and in stable condition.
Beijing police have arrested the suspect, a 53-year-old foreign man. His nationality has not been publicized.
Bloomberg notes that “Hu Xijin, a former editor of the Chinese state-backed Global Times newspaper, said on the social media site Weibo that the attacker must be punished according to the law regardless of his purpose. The articles were unavailable later Friday.”
No motive has been reported, and it is unclear if it was connected to the war between Israel and Hamas.
China’s Foreign Ministry expressed sympathy for the victim on Friday. On Monday, in response to a question at a press briefing, a spokesperson said, “To my knowledge, the police is investigating and handling the matter. China will continue to take effective measures to protect the security and safety of foreign institutions and personnel in China.”
—Updated October 16, 2023
