A Chinese man attacked two American tourists in Beijing, killing one
and seriously injuring the other, before taking his own life.
Stephanie Ho reports from Beijing.
The U.S. Olympic Committee's
Darryl Seibel says the American couple and their Chinese tour guide
were attacked Saturday while sightseeing in Beijing.
"They were
at the Drum Tower. They were stabbed in the attack. And shortly after
the attack, the assailant took his own life. That's really the extent
of what I know about the attack itself," explained Seibel.
The attacker was 47-year-old Tang Yongming, a man the U.S. Embassy in Beijing says was from the eastern province of Zhejiang.
The
stabbing occurred on the very high second level of the Drum Tower,
which is only accessible by a steep stairway. Afterwards, Tang
committed suicide by jumping off the monument.
Official Chinese
media give no motive for the attack. Attacks on foreigners in China
are very rare. And security in Beijing has been especially tight
because of the Olympics, which opened Friday.
The U.S. Olympic
Committee's Seibel says the victims were family members of a coach for
the U.S. Olympic men's indoor volleyball team. But he says he does not
believe they were specifically targeted.
"My understanding is
that the individuals who were attacked were not wearing apparel that
obviously or automatically identified them as members of the United
States delegation or in any way connected them to the United States
delegation," said Seibel.
He says the U.S. Olympic Committee is in touch with Chinese and U.S. authorities about the case.
President
Bush, who is in Beijing to attend the Olympics opening ceremony and
several sporting events, expressed his condolences.
"Laura and I
were also saddened by an attack on an American family and their Chinese
tour guide today in Beijing. Our thoughts and prayers are with the
victims and their families," he said.
The U.S. Olympic men's indoor volleyball team plays its first match Sunday.
