David Zabner, one of the injured instructors, shares his experience of the violent attack in Jilin.
David Zabner, a college instructor from Cornell College in Iowa, shared his personal account of a stabbing attack in Jilin, China, on Monday, which left him and three other instructors injured. The group, all from Cornell College, was leaving a public park when Zabner heard a scream. Initially, he did not recognize the danger, thinking his colleagues had simply been pushed. However, when he turned around, he saw a man with a knife approaching him.
The attack occurred in the northeastern city of Jilin, a location that had been relatively quiet prior to this incident. Zabner described the harrowing moment as the knife-wielding man charged toward him and his colleagues. He explained that the initial confusion turned into panic as he realized the situation was much more dangerous than he had first perceived.
Zabner, who spoke to Iowa Public Radio from a hospital in Jilin, recounted how the group tried to retreat but was unable to escape the immediate threat. The attacker allegedly targeted the group without provocation, making the incident all the more unsettling for the instructors. Though Zabner and the others were injured, they were not fatally harmed in the attack.
Local authorities responded quickly to the scene, apprehending the assailant. The motive behind the attack remains unclear, and investigators are working to determine whether it was an isolated incident or part of a broader pattern of violence. Zabner and his colleagues, who had been in China for educational purposes, were immediately given medical attention and are expected to recover.
The incident has raised concerns among U.S. citizens abroad, particularly those living and working in regions where safety can be unpredictable. The attack has also drawn attention to the risks faced by foreign nationals in certain areas, prompting calls for improved security measures for expatriates.
Cornell College, based in Mount Vernon, Iowa, expressed relief that none of its instructors suffered life-threatening injuries. The college is cooperating with Chinese authorities in their investigation and has provided support to the affected instructors. The school community has expressed their solidarity with those involved, and the injured faculty members are expected to return home once they are cleared by medical professionals.
This unsettling attack in China has highlighted the challenges that foreigners may face when living or traveling abroad. It also serves as a reminder of the importance of awareness and caution in unfamiliar environments, particularly in public spaces.
