Tragedy strikes in Beijing
A Chinese man stabbed three people at the Drum Tower just outside the center of Olympics competition, killing one and injuring two others.
The victims were Todd and Barbara Bachman, parents of former Olympian Elisabeth Bachman who is married to men’s volleyball coach Hugh McCutcheon. Bachman’s father was killed.
The assailant also stabbed and injured a Chinese tour guide with the Americans. He then committed suicide by throwing himself off a 130-foot-high balcony of the ancient landmark the Americans were visiting, the 13th century Drum Tower, the official Xinhua News Agency reported.
The U.S. Embassy believed the incident was isolated and not directed at Americans since neither American victim was wearing anything that would specifically identify them and the third victim was Chinese.
President Bush said the U.S. government would provide any assistance the Bachman family would need, and USOC Chairman Peter Ueberroth offered his condolences.
“It is impossible to describe the depth of our sadness and shock in this tragic hour ... Our delegation comes to the games as a family, and when one member of our family suffers a loss, we all grieve with them.”
The attacker was identified as Tang Yongming, 47, from the eastern city of Hangzhou. Tang attacked the three individuals on the second level of Drum Tower before leaping to his death.
Photo via Reuters.
