A knife attack at a restaurant in Shanghai left three people injured on Tuesday. The victims included two Japanese nationals and one Chinese citizen, Chinese authorities said. Police quickly arrested the suspect after the incident. Officials said the attacker was believed to be suffering from a mental disorder.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said authorities immediately took all three victims to hospital for treatment. Officials have not revealed the motive behind the attack. They also have not shared details about the victims’ current condition. Authorities said the investigation is still ongoing.
China calls stabbing an isolated incident
According to a report by the Global Times, Guo Jiakun described the case as an “isolated public security incident.” He said authorities were handling the matter according to Chinese law. Guo confirmed that the attack injured one Chinese citizen and two Japanese nationals inside the restaurant in Shanghai.
A 🇨🇳 man stabbed 3 people including 2 Japanese nationals at Japanese restaurant “Ginpei” on the 3rd floor of Shanghai World Financial Center (SWFC) in the Lujiazui area of Shanghai's Pudong New Area.
— Byron Wan (@Byron_Wan) May 19, 2026
Local police claimed the man was mentally ill (I’m not so sure‼️)
They say… pic.twitter.com/7joX9hbdMD
He also said police detained the suspect shortly after the stabbing. During the investigation, officials found that the attacker was suffering from a mental disorder.
Authorities warn against speculation
Chinese officials urged media organisations and the public not to spread rumours or connect the incident to political or diplomatic tensions. Responding to follow-up questions, Guo asked people not to create “groundless hype” or make “unfounded associations” about the case.
Authorities stressed that the stabbing was an individual criminal act and should not be linked to broader international issues.