San Francisco police fire suspect during standoff
Chinese Consulate General: “Serious damage and threats have been inflicted… “Strongly condemn”
Witness: “The suspect appears to have mentioned the Chinese Communist Party.”
A man who drove his car into the Chinese consulate in San Francisco, California, was shot and killed by police.
According to CNN and BBC on the 10th (local time), San Francisco police announced that an unidentified man who crashed into the lobby of the Chinese consulate in a car on the 9th was shot dead by police during a confrontation with police officers who arrived at the scene.
According to a San Francisco police spokesperson, the suspect rushed into the lobby of the Chinese Consulate General while driving at 3:09 p.m. on the 9th.
A spokesman said police responded within minutes of the incident and encountered the driver in the lobby, shooting him. The driver was taken to a nearby hospital and pronounced dead, CNN reported.
Police said no injuries were reported, but some property within the consulate was damaged. They also stated that the investigation was ongoing and did not disclose additional information, such as why the police opened fire and whether the deceased was armed.
A spokesperson for the Chinese Consulate General in San Francisco said the incident caused “serious damage” to the building and put people at “serious risk.” The consulate added that it “strongly condemns” the incident and demanded “a prompt and serious investigation in accordance with the law.”
Video recorded by eyewitness Sergei Molchanov shows a blue car crashing into a wall inside the consulate, scattering debris, and people leaving the consulate building as they pass by it.
Molchanov told CNN that the driver shouted “Where is the CCP?” before fleeing the car, using a term that appeared to refer to the Chinese Communist Party. The driver then began fighting with the guards, Molchanov said. “Frightened visitors, including myself, ran out and the police soon arrived,” he added.
San Francisco police said they were cooperating with the Chinese consulate along with U.S. State Department officials.
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A police spokesperson said, “Because the incident occurred in the lobby of the Chinese consulate, several related agencies have jurisdiction,” and added, “Authorities are working to determine which agency will lead the investigation of this incident.”
Source: Donga
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.