Authorities in Zhuhai, China, have removed flowers and memorial items left at the site of a deadly car attack that claimed 35 lives and injured 43 others. The incident occurred when a man reportedly drove his car into a crowd near a sports center following a dispute over his divorce settlement.
Public reaction to the government’s delayed response—taking nearly 24 hours to confirm the death toll—sparked widespread criticism on social media, where many questioned the nation’s response to a series of recent violent incidents. Despite efforts to censor these discussions, mourners gathered at the site to lay flowers, which were promptly cleared away by security personnel.
Messages left at the scene expressed heartfelt condolences: “May there be no demons in heaven” and “Good will triumph over evil,” wrote some. Authorities eventually restricted media access and limited filming and interaction with mourners.
Meanwhile, Chinese state media prioritized coverage of the Zhuhai airshow and President Xi Jinping's upcoming APEC trip, omitting reports on the tragedy. The government has called for an investigation and dispatched officials to oversee the response, while President Xi demanded punishment for the attacker.
In response to online backlash, censorship experts noted that incidents involving mass casualties are often tightly controlled in China to manage public perception and limit potential unrest or imitation attacks.
