2008 Beijing Drum Tower stabbings
Encyclopedia
On August 9, 2008 in Beijing, People's Republic of China, two American tourists and their Chinese tour guide were stabbed at the Drum Tower; one of the tourists was killed. The assailant then committed suicide by jumping from the tower. The incident occurred during the 2008 Summer Olympics
in Beijing. The incident has been described as isolated since attacks on foreigners while visiting China are rare.
Three people were stabbed in Beijing, China, on August 9, 2008, by 47-year-old Tang Yongming of Hangzhou
, while visiting the 13th-century Drum Tower in Beijing during the 2008 Summer Olympics. The victims were Todd Bachman, a prominent horticulturalist from Lakeville, Minnesota
, his wife Barbara, and their female Chinese national tour guide. Todd Bachman, who died in the attack, was the father of American athlete Elisabeth Bachman
and the father-in-law of Team USA men's volleyball coach Hugh McCutcheon
. Barbara Bachman was severely wounded but survived the attack. The attacker then leaped to his death from a 40 metres (131.2 ft) high balcony on the Drum Tower. US Olympic Committee Chairman Peter Ueberroth
and US President
George W. Bush
both offered their condolences.
, and was a metal presser
at the Hangzhou Meter Factory for more than twenty years. He had no previous criminal record, according to investigators. Investigators reported that Tang was distraught over family problems. A colleague who knew Tang said that he "[had] an unyielding mouth", "grumbled a great deal", and was "very cynical". Another former co-worker said Tang 'had a quick temper and was always complaining about society". Police report that Tang went through his second divorce in 2006 and grew increasingly despondent when his 21-year-old son started getting into trouble. The son was detained in May 2007 on suspicion of fraud, then received a suspended prison sentence in March 2008 for theft.
2008 Summer Olympics
The 2008 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, was a major international multi-sport event that took place in Beijing, China, from August 8 to August 24, 2008. A total of 11,028 athletes from 204 National Olympic Committees competed in 28 sports and 302 events...
in Beijing. The incident has been described as isolated since attacks on foreigners while visiting China are rare.
Events and victims
Hangzhou
Hangzhou , formerly transliterated as Hangchow, is the capital and largest city of Zhejiang Province in Eastern China. Governed as a sub-provincial city, and as of 2010, its entire administrative division or prefecture had a registered population of 8.7 million people...
, while visiting the 13th-century Drum Tower in Beijing during the 2008 Summer Olympics. The victims were Todd Bachman, a prominent horticulturalist from Lakeville, Minnesota
Lakeville, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 43,128 people, 13,609 households, and 11,526 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,192.4 people per square mile . There were 13,799 housing units at an average density of 381.5 per square mile...
, his wife Barbara, and their female Chinese national tour guide. Todd Bachman, who died in the attack, was the father of American athlete Elisabeth Bachman
Elisabeth Bachman
Elisabeth Bachman is a retired volleyball player from the United States, who represented her native country at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece...
and the father-in-law of Team USA men's volleyball coach Hugh McCutcheon
Hugh McCutcheon
Hugh McCutcheon , a native of Christchurch, New Zealand, is the former head coach of the US men's national volleyball team, the current head coach of the US women's national volleyball team, and the announced head coach of the University of Minnesota's women's volleyball team.McCutcheon was a New...
. Barbara Bachman was severely wounded but survived the attack. The attacker then leaped to his death from a 40 metres (131.2 ft) high balcony on the Drum Tower. US Olympic Committee Chairman Peter Ueberroth
Peter Ueberroth
Peter Victor Ueberroth is an American executive. He served as the sixth Commissioner of Major League Baseball from 1984 to 1989. He was recently the chairman of the United States Olympic Committee; he was replaced by Larry Probst in October 2008....
and US President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
both offered their condolences.
Perpetrator
Tang Yongming spent most of his life in the outskirts of HangzhouHangzhou
Hangzhou , formerly transliterated as Hangchow, is the capital and largest city of Zhejiang Province in Eastern China. Governed as a sub-provincial city, and as of 2010, its entire administrative division or prefecture had a registered population of 8.7 million people...
, and was a metal presser
Machine press
A machine press, commonly shortened to press, is a machine tool that changes the shape of a workpiece.-Servomechanism:A servomechanism press, also known as a servo press or a electro press, is a press driven by an AC servo motor. The torque produced is converted to a linear force via a ball screw....
at the Hangzhou Meter Factory for more than twenty years. He had no previous criminal record, according to investigators. Investigators reported that Tang was distraught over family problems. A colleague who knew Tang said that he "[had] an unyielding mouth", "grumbled a great deal", and was "very cynical". Another former co-worker said Tang 'had a quick temper and was always complaining about society". Police report that Tang went through his second divorce in 2006 and grew increasingly despondent when his 21-year-old son started getting into trouble. The son was detained in May 2007 on suspicion of fraud, then received a suspended prison sentence in March 2008 for theft.