In brief
In the wake of a deadly car attack that left 35 people dead, Chinese authorities are swiftly removing evidence of the tragedy to control the narrative and prevent dissent.
In Zhuhai, China, officials are responding to the country’s deadliest attack in a decade with a heavy hand. A 62-year-old driver drove his SUV into a crowd, killing at least 35 people and injuring more than 43. Just days after this tragedy, workers hastily cleared flowers left in memory of the victims near the sports center where the incident occurred.To further control the situation, police and unidentified officials are discouraging bystanders from discussing the attack and have placed restrictions on the media, preventing journalists from interviewing victims' families in hospitals. One individual claimed to be a community worker and refused to allow any interviews.Online, censors are actively deleting any mention of the attack from social platforms, silencing alternative narratives and eyewitness accounts. Information about the event took almost a full day to be made public, and the limited official statements lack significant details. This calculated effort by the Chinese government aims to suppress dissent and direct public focus away from grief or criticism, reflecting a familiar tactic following major tragedies.
