A driver was fatally shot by the police after he crashed his car into the visa office. Chinese Consulate in San Francisco Monday afternoon is the San Francisco Police Department
Officers responded around 3 pm to the accident near Geary Boulevard, and Laguna Street. “found that the vehicle had come to rest in the lobby of the Chinese Consulate,” According to a statement by the San Francisco Police Department.
The police reported that the shooting happened after the officers made initial contact with the suspect. Police said officers and paramedics responded to the scene, rendered first aid, then transported the suspect to nearby hospital where they died.
Around 20 people were affected. in Sergii Molochanov, a Stanford Medicine graduate student who was applying for a visa, told reporters that he was standing in the waiting room of the visa offices when the car crashed. He said that the driver of the car was a man, who appeared to be in His 30s
“This guy comes out of the car shouting and saying, ‘Where is the C.C.P.,’” He said that Mr. Molchanov was 32. He claimed that the driver had used an expletive. “C.C.P.,” This is an abbreviation commonly used for the Chinese Communist Party
Mr. Molchanov reported that when the driver tried going back to his car security personnel restrained and people began running out of building.
“Why on earth would someone drive a car into the consulate? He seemed very angry,” Mr. Molchanov stated.
Social media images circulated a part of the consulate covered in a white tarp. cordoned off With yellow crime scene tape. Then, another video posted to social media The video showed people escaping the building where the blue Honda car remained.
The investigation is ongoing, and authorities haven’t released the name. The authorities have not released the name of the suspect. Chinese Consulate General in San Francisco The following are some of the ways to get in touch with each other in A statement that the driver crashed into a consular document handling area. “posing a serious threat to the life and safety of staff and people on site.”
“Our embassy severely condemns this violent attack and reserves the right to pursue responsibilities related to the incident,” The consulate stated.
The incident occurred weeks before San Francisco is to host the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit, where diplomats are hoping that China’s top leader, Xi Jinping, will meet with President Biden. Senator Chuck Schumer from New York is the majority leader. in This week, China is leading a bipartisan delegation of congressional members that will be meeting with leaders.
Mr. Xi and Mr. Schumer met on Monday, where he expressed his hope for a successful outcome. “peaceful coexistence” The United States. The Biden administration has tried to in In recent months, the United States has worked to improve its relationship with Beijing, amid increasing geopolitical tensions about the status of Taiwan – which China views as part of its territory – and the trade between the countries.
Chinese The news of the incident at the consulate was met with shock and anger by social media users. On Tuesday morning, it was the most popular topic on Weibo, China’s Twitter-like service. By mid-afternoon the discussion had received more than 300,000,000 views.
Zixu Wang contributed reporting.
