French national ‘violently’ assaulted with knife in China, attacker arrested

A French national was “violently” assaulted in the city with a knife this week and the French community in China has been asked to remain vigilant.

France’s consulate in Shanghai said on Friday that a French national was “violently” assaulted in the city with a knife this week and urged the French community in China to be vigilant.

A French national was attacked with a knife in Shanghai. (Representative image)

The Consulate General of France in Shanghai said in a statement on its website that the victim was attacked on Wednesday by a man who fled after a Chinese colleague intervened. The attacker was later arrested by the Chinese police, it said.

“The French embassy and consulate-generals are in constant contact with the Chinese authorities to remind that the security of French nationals in China is a priority,” it said.

Attacks on foreigners in China are rare but the incident comes after a Chinese man was shot dead by police this week at his Paris home, triggering rioting in the French capital by members of the Chinese community and a sharp reaction from Beijing.

It was not clear whether the two incidents are related.