Two women lost their lives in a tragic incident at a shopping mall in Hong Kong on Friday, in what appeared to be an indiscriminate knife attack.
According to the South China Morning Post (SCMP), local law enforcement managed to subdue and apprehend the assailant after arriving at the scene. The distressing event was captured by a security camera at Diamond Hill’s Plaza Hollywood mall.
The footage reveals the attacker approaching the unsuspecting women from behind, shortly after 5 pm local time. Over the course of nearly a minute, the perpetrator repeatedly stabbed one of the victims, while the other woman attempted to intervene multiple times, only to be assaulted herself. Unfortunately, no one came to their aid during the assault.
Authorities have confirmed that the victims, aged 22 and 26, were immediately rushed to the hospital in an unconscious state. Despite efforts to save them, they tragically succumbed to their injuries. Shockingly, one of the women sustained over 25 stab wounds.
The motive behind the attack remains unclear, and it is uncertain whether the assailant had any prior connection to the victims.
A saleswoman present at the mall recounted the incident, stating that the attacker stood beside the injured women as medical personnel from the mall arrived to provide first aid. Law enforcement officers arrived shortly after.
The saleswoman expressed her astonishment, revealing that the medical staff seemed unaware of the assailant’s presence. In fact, the mall staff remained unaware of the full extent of the incident until the shops were instructed to close.
The authorities swiftly cordoned off the area, initiating a thorough investigation into the horrifying event.
Footage circulating online depicts the assailant, a 39-year-old individual, purchasing a knife from a store approximately ten minutes prior to the attack. In another video, a team of police officers, equipped with shields and pepper spray, cautiously approach the suspect, ordering him to drop the 15cm knife. After a coordinated effort, the officers manage to overpower the attacker, restraining him on the ground and placing him under arrest.
The suspect has been transported to a police station for further questioning, and the authorities have officially categorized the case as a murder investigation.
A video of the aftermath of the incident showing police officers rushing over to subdue the man and CPR being performed on the victims can be found here. (Warning: Graphic content, viewer discretion is advised)