(StraightNews.org) – Chinese police have arrested a man after four American university tutors were stabbed in a park in the Jilin province. China’s foreign ministry said the four educators from Iowa Cornell College were not seriously injured, and none are in a life-threatening condition. The alleged assailant, known only as Cui, reportedly argued with the Americans in Beishan Park in Jilin City before pulling a knife and attacking them.
Foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said the assault was an “isolated incident” and China is one of the world’s safest countries. He added that the incident should not damage international relations.
Democratic Iowa State Rep. Adam Zabner has since revealed that one of the injured Americans is his brother, David. In a published statement, Zabner confirmed that his brother had been released from hospital and is returning to the United States. He thanked medical staff in China for their care and noted that the US Consulate in Shenyang was “incredibly supportive.”
Rep. Zabner also stated that Vice President Kamala Harris, Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley, and Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks offered support. “I am deeply thankful for their commitment to bringing David home,” he wrote.
White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan tweeted that the US government was in touch with Chinese officials to ensure that the Americans get the care and assistance they need to aid a speedy recovery. US Ambassador to China Nicholas Burns said he was “angered and troubled” by the incident and had arranged for a US consular official to visit the Iowans and ensure their well-being.
A video circulated on Twitter appeared to show bloodied people lying on the ground in a park that US reporters were able to identify thanks to nearby signage. They could not confirm when the film was recorded, however.
The Americans were in China as part of Cornell College’s teaching exchange program with Beihua University in Jilin City, around 600 miles from Beijing. They are instructors in science, mathematics, and physics.
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