4 Iowa College lecturers attacked while visiting a park in China

MOUNT VERNON, Iowa (KCRG/Gray News) – Four professors at Cornell College in Iowa were stabbed while on a trip to China.

As reported on Monday, the instructors were visiting a public park in the city of Jilin when they were attacked. They were on a teaching partnership with Beihua University in China, KCRG reports.

Cornell College has confirmed that no students were involved in the trip.

US Representative Mariannette Miller-Meeks said two of the victims are in critical condition and undergoing surgery. She is in contact with two of the affected families as well as with US and Chinese officials.

“As far as we know, there was one (suspect). I think they were taken into custody. I don’t know if they are still in custody,” she said. “As far as we know, it was unprovoked and arbitrary. We don’t know of any other motives.”

State Rep. Adam Zabner said “everyone is awake” and his brother, David Zabner, was one of the victims.

David Zabner is a doctoral student in computer science at Tufts University in Massachusetts but worked with Cornell during his teaching program, his brother said. He is currently recovering from an arm injury sustained in the attack.

The US State Department is aware of reports of a stabbing and is monitoring the situation, the Associated Press said.

In a message to students and staff, Cornell President Jonathan Brand said:

“Cornell Community,

We have learned that four Cornell University faculty members teaching under a partnership with a university in China were seriously injured in a accident while visiting a public park during the day while accompanied by a faculty member from the partner university.

We are in contact with all four lecturers and are supporting them during this time. No students have participated in this program.”

Copyright 2024 KCRG via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved.