Knife Attack Rumor Launches Stampede on Guangzhou Metro

Charles Liu , June 9, 2014 2:42pm

guangzhou subway stampede terrorism panic attack knife Six people were injured when passengers aboard a Guangzhou Metro Line 3 subway train panicked and began a stampede, reports Sina News Video.

A passenger called out, “There’s a knife attack!” as the subway train pulled into Meihuayuan Station at around 1pm. This caused a surge of people to come from the back of the train, leading to an immediate evacuation onto the subway platform.

The cause of the stampede may be due to a person who had fainted aboard the train.

READ: Knife Attack at Guangzhou Train Station Injures Six People
Suspect “Acted Alone” in Knife Attack At Guangzhou Railway Station

Ever since a number of knife and bomb attacks throughout the country earlier this year, public anxiety has been high as crowds have panicked while the threat of terrorism remains a hot topic in the media.

One person has been charged with spreading rumors online after Shenzhen crowds panicked when a shelf was pushed down in a subway plaza mall near the Dongmen pedestrian walkway, causing a stampede captured on video.

READ: Guangzhou Jittery After False Reports of Knife, Bomb Attacks

Commuters ran for their lives from the Guomao Subway Station on Beijing Metro’s Line 1 on June 5, reports Want China Times. The chaotic stampede was later attributed to a fight between two passengers.

Passengers on the Beijing Metro also experienced another panic attack on April 16 when a dispute between two commuters at the Huixinxijie Nankou Station on Line 5 caused a stampede when panicked passengers tried to get off the train too quickly, reports iFeng.

RELATED: 11,000 Extra Police on Patrol in Guangzhou This Labor Day Holiday

Other instances of stampedes causing injury or death not related to terrorism have previously occurred in China. Four elementary school children died when an iron gate failed to open at the bottom of a stairwell after the end of classes. Eight people died and 26 were injured at the Yucai Middle School in Hunan after the end of classes.

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Photo: Sina News Video via Weibo

Charles Liu

The Nanfang's Senior Editor