Foreign models stabbed by man of mental problems in Guangzhou

By Liang Qiwen (chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2009-06-05 21:56

GUANGZHOU: Four foreign models were stabbed during a frenzied attack at a fashion show outside a shopping mall in the southern economic hub of Guangzhou.

The alleged stabber, aged about 25 years, is accused of jumping on to the runway and chasing the models, knifing them in the arms and legs.

He had been among audience members watching the models display perfume during the parade in front of Grandbuy shopping mall, on Beijing Road pedestrian area, on Thursday at 8 pm.

"He waved the knife, thrusting the models' arms and legs," a witness surnamed Zhang said. "The models ran away at once, but he chased after them and kept on stabbing them."

The man, who is believed to suffer from a mental illness, tried to run from the area but was detained by police near the runway.

The terrifying incident lasted just a few minutes, and police and security guards rushed to the scene to bring the situation back under control.

A witness surnamed Li said the man - who was wearing shabby clothes and was about 1.7 m tall - appeared calm in the crowd and that police would not have paid much attention to him.

The four models were taken to Guangzhou No 1 People's Hospital. A doctor at the hospital surnamed Liu said the models were in a stable condition after treatment. "Their injuries are external," Liu said. "We have sewed up their wounds."

The South China Metropolis Daily reported that one of the injured female models was likely from Brazil. Police would not confirm the nationalities of the models on Friday.

The man was detained at the police station in Yuexiu district in Guangzhou on Thursday night.

"Police found the man's eyes to be glazed over and he was very taciturn when they talked to him," Zhang Yitao, an official of the security bureau of Guangzhou, said.

Police suspect the man had mental problems, she said. The man was detained for disturbing public security. He will undergo a mental health examination.