A shocking incident unfolded on Friday in Beijing as an Israeli embassy worker was attacked with a knife by another foreign national, leaving the victim hospitalised and the suspect subsequently arrested, according to officials. The attack occurred on a street in the Chinese capital, as revealed by a video geolocated by AFP.
Israel’s foreign ministry confirmed the incident, stating that the assault did not take place within the embassy compound. The injured Israeli employee is reportedly in stable condition and receiving treatment at a local hospital. Authorities are currently investigating the motive behind the attack.
Police in Beijing’s Chaoyang District provided details, stating that a 50-year-old male relative of an Israeli diplomat was stabbed outside a supermarket by a 53-year-old male involved in small goods trading in Beijing. The suspect has been arrested, and the case is under further investigation.
Expressing shock over the incident, US Ambassador to China Nicholas Burns offered full support to the Israeli embassy and community in China. The attack, captured in a video circulating on social media, shows a man wielding a knife stabbing another man on the street. Security staff at the scene are seen questioning individuals, and the injured victim is later carried away, likely for medical treatment.
Despite the attack, the Israeli embassy in northeast Beijing appeared to be operating normally, with no visible increase in policing. The Chinese foreign ministry has not issued an immediate response to the incident.
The timing of the attack raises concerns, occurring amid heightened tensions between Israel and Hamas. The Israeli foreign ministry warned of potential violent protests worldwide, following Hamas’s call for a ‘Day of Rage’ on Friday. The situation remains fluid as investigations continue into the motive and circumstances surrounding the attack in Beijing.
