Police confirm 35 people dead and dozens injured after driver rams car into crowd

Police have confirmed that 35 people died after a 62-year-old man rammed into people exercising at a sports centre in China.

The driver of the vehicle, who has been named only as Fan, has since been detained.

Fan is alleged to have driven a small SUV through a barrier and into Zhuhai Sports Centre, hitting multiple civilians.

Over 40 people have been injured in the incident, with one of the four hospitals that took in people for treatment stating it had more than 20 wounded individuals.

He was arrested whilst trying to flee and is currently in a coma in hospital, thanks to self-inflicted gunshot wounds.

The 62-year-old is currently unable to be questioned due to his current medical condition.

Police have claimed that he allegedly launched the attack because he was displeased with the settlement he received following his divorce.

“Officers found Fan self-harming with a knife in the vehicle, immediately stopped him and sent him to hospital for treatment. Due to severe neck injuries, Fan is currently unconscious, still undergoing emergency treatment and unable to be interrogated,” police said in the statement.

He has been detained on suspicion of “endangering public safety,” according to the statement.

An eyewitness told Caxin, a Chinese media outlet, that he saw at least six groups of people gathering at the stadium for their regular walks before the alleged hit-and-run occurred.

The vehicle then sped at the groups, “knocking down many people”, said the witness named Chen.

“It struck all around, injuring people in various sections of the sports field’s circular track, across the eastern, southern, western, and northern areas,” another witness surnamed Liu told the publication.

“It drove in a loop, and people were hurt in all areas of the running track – east, south, west, and north,”

The incident occurred on the eve of China’s biggest civil and military airshow, which runs from November 12 to 17 in Zhuhai.

The sports centre is a popular venue for many in the Xiangzhou district, regularly attracting hundreds of residents who use the facilities to exercise.

Following the incident, the centre announced it would be closed until further notice.