China: Suspended death sentence for driver in school kids attack

In a statement, the court said Huang carried out the attack to vent his anger after dealing with investment losses and family conflict.

The sentencing marked the first time the exact number of injuries from the Changde City incident was known. Many posts about it have been scrubbed from social media.

Just days before, a man who was reportedly unhappy over his divorce settlement, ploughed his car into a crowd in Zuhai, killing 35 people.

Some observers have described such attacks as acts of vengeance against society. Others say these incidents underscore some people’s pent-up frustrations over China’s economy.

“Why does he deserve a suspension?” one Weibo user said of Huang.

“Such vicious cases need to be dealt with seriously and swiftly for deterrence,” another commented.

Videos that circulated immediately after the attack showed children lying on the ground, others fleeing in panic, and an angry pedestrian banging on Huang’s car with a snow shovel while he was still inside.

The court said Huang’s actions at that time reflected “extremely severe criminal circumstances” he was in.

As part of his sentence, the Huang was also stripped of political rights for life.