Society

Five injured in bloody rampage

By Zheng Caixiong (China Daily)
Updated: 2010-02-08 07:48
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Five injured in bloody rampage
Left: Yu Shangzhen, 45, a senior doctor of neurology. Bottom left: Liao Junfang, 44, a physiotherapist with the acupuncture department. Right: the Wuyi Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine where the stabbing took place.

Hospital says attack is not linked to man's treatment

GUANGZHOU: A 38-year-old man has been detained after he allegedly stabbed five people at a hospital in Jiangmen, Guangdong province on Saturday.

The five victims, including three female doctors, a female intern and a male patient, were all in a stable condition yesterday, according to a statement from the Wuyi Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Jiangmen.

The hospital said the suspect, Liang Jiangang, is a local resident and had received treatment from all three doctors.

However, the hospital denied that the incident was triggered by a dispute over treatment that he received at the hospital.

Five injured in bloody rampage

"At present, we have not found any direct link between the stabbing and disputes (with doctors), and the case has been handed over to police for further investigation," the statement said.

According to several witnesses, the incident took place on Saturday at 11:18 am when Liang, holding a kitchen knife, ran into the hospital, shouting that he wanted to meet the hospital president, surnamed Wu.

It's alleged Liang, wearing a motorcycle helmet, stabbed Yu Shangzhen, 45, on the second floor of the hospital.

He then ran upstairs to the third floor, where he chased down Xuan Xiaoyan and stabbed the 31-year-old woman.

It's further alleged that Liang then went to the sixth floor of a second building and stabbed Liao Junfang, 44, and female intern Li Weiming, 22.

Liang then allegedly stabbed 69-year-oldYe Niu, a patient in the acupunture department.

Security guards and onlookers brought Liang under control in a small room on the sixth floor of the building.

Yu, a senior doctor of neurology, suffered a bone fracture and tendon damage in her left arm. Yu and Xuan, a kidney disease specialist, underwent emergency surgery at the hospital.

The hospital said Yu was named outstanding medical worker of the country.

Liao is a physiotherapist in the hospital's department of acupuncture and Li is an intern.

The case has raised great concern from both city and provincial governments.

Liao Xinbo, deputy director general of the Guangdong provincial department of health, went to the hospital to help investigate the case.

In addition to visiting the wounded and conveying greetings to the family members of the victims, Liao urged the hospital and relevant departments to investigate the case to its fullest extent.

A special task force consisting of police officers, relevant government officials and medical staff was established to help handle the case.

It was speculated online that Liang once worked in the canteen. Liang's medical history is unknown.

Liang has not been charged with any offence.

Five injured in bloody rampage