A shocking knife attack in eastern China has ended with a death sentence for the attacker. Last June, a 52-year-old man, identified only by his last name Zhou, stabbed a Japanese woman and her child, leaving them injured. Tragically, a bus attendant who tried to intervene lost her life in the attack.

The court in Suzhou handed down the death penalty, citing Zhou’s financial struggles and loss of will to live as motives. While official details from Chinese authorities remain scarce, Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary confirmed the verdict, stating the government views it as a matter of utmost seriousness.

The attack unfolded at a bus stop near a Japanese school, where the mother was picking up her child. Both survived with non-life-threatening injuries, but the bus attendant’s heroic efforts came at a devastating cost.

This incident was one of two knife attacks on Japanese nationals in China last year, raising concerns about rising anti-Japanese sentiment. The second attack, in Shenzhen, claimed the life of a 10-year-old Japanese boy. Both events have fueled fears among Japanese citizens living in China and prompted calls for better safety measures.

Experts note these attacks occur against a backdrop of heightened nationalism and historical tensions between the two nations. While China’s foreign ministry has described the incidents as isolated, Japanese officials have urged stronger action to prevent such tragedies in the future.

The death sentence marks a grim chapter in this case, but it also underscores the ongoing challenges in addressing violence and safeguarding foreign nationals in China.