Screams and chaos: Eyewitnesses describe Shanghai mall stabbings

In a shocking incident that occurred on a Monday night in Shanghai, chaos erupted at the Ludu International Shopping Plaza, located in the Songjiang district. Just 20 minutes before the mall was set to close, a 37-year-old man named Lin began a violent rampage, attacking shoppers with knives. According to police reports, Lin injured 18 people and tragically killed three. A 28-year-old construction worker named Zheng was at the mall with a friend when they witnessed the horrifying scene unfold. Zheng described the panic as people began to run, hide, and scream in terror. He and his friend attempted to intervene by throwing chairs at Lin in an effort to stop him, but they quickly lost track of him as he moved to the second floor. Zheng recounted, 'As everything became chaotic, we could only work out where he had gone to by hearing people’s screams. ' He expressed his belief that Lin's actions were premeditated, stating, 'I believe he deliberately chose the exits; he must have scouted the area beforehand. ' Eyewitnesses outside the mall reported seeing Lin exit the building with a knife in each hand, appearing calm and collected despite the chaos he had just caused. They noted that he seemed to be in control of the situation even as police apprehended him. Social media footage captured the moment Lin was taken away, his jacket stained with the blood of his victims. Authorities later revealed that Lin had come to Shanghai to 'vent his anger' due to a personal economic dispute, and investigations into the incident are ongoing. The day after the attack, when BBC reporters visited the Ludu International Shopping Plaza, it was as if the violent event had never occurred. The blood had been cleaned up, and the mall was open for business as usual. However, the shock of the incident lingered among the employees. A young shopkeeper, who was not working at the time of the attack, expressed her fear of returning to work, saying, 'It’s like a movie. You can’t believe there’d be something so terrifying right next to you. ' She pointed out the increased security presence at the mall, admitting that it made her feel somewhat safer. Another shopkeeper, who sells phone accessories, shared her close call with danger, stating that if she had delayed closing her shop by just 10 minutes, she would have been in Lin's path. 'When I heard about it later, I was so scared I couldn’t sleep,' she said, reflecting on how fortunate she felt to have escaped harm. This incident is part of a troubling trend of knife attacks in China this year, raising concerns about the underlying issues contributing to such violence. Discussions have emerged regarding the economic pressures facing individuals and the potential link to mental health issues. Knife attacks on strangers have occurred in waves throughout China, often resembling copycat incidents aimed at gaining attention. As the nation was preparing to celebrate 75 years since the Communist Party came to power, this violent act cast a shadow over the festivities. Disturbing footage of the injured circulated on social media, showing the severity of the situation. One particularly heart-wrenching image depicted a woman cradling a stabbed toddler, desperately trying to call for help. At the time of reporting, a family member revealed that the two-and-a-half-year-old girl remained in intensive care. The Chinese government has since attempted to censor discussions about the attack on social media platforms, although some users have found ways to circumvent these restrictions. In online forums, some individuals have expressed relief that access to firearms is heavily restricted in China, suggesting that if ordinary citizens had easier access to guns, the death toll could have been much higher. However, the government's efforts to suppress public discourse surrounding the incident highlight the extent of their concern. Managers at Walmart and the Ludu Plaza reportedly prevented many employees from speaking to reporters, often interrupting interviews. Zheng, who had witnessed the attack, expressed disbelief at how quickly the mall was cleaned up, stating, 'I can only feel sorrow for the victims.