July 13, 2001 7:43 am EST
BEIJING (Reuters) - Chinese police have arrested a butcher accused of hacking to death four food inspectors and seriously wounding three after they confiscated his meat, newspapers and officials said on Friday
It took 700 policemen 14 hours to catch Guan Jiadong, 35, who fled on a motorbike after running amok, chasing terrified inspectors down the street with a long knife in each hand and turning back at one point to hack at two writhing in blood, they said.
About 50 inspectors going over an open-air market in the northeastern city of Shenyang on Thursday morning found Guan did not have a license for his stall and deemed his meat not up to standard, the Liaoshen Evening News said.
It quoted witnesses as saying the outraged butcher plunged into the group and struck down one inspector.
The other inspectors fled with Guan chasing them down the street, hacking and stabbing at them, the witnesses were quoted as saying.
Police confirmed four inspectors lay dead as Guan dropped his knives and rode off and hospital officials said the three wounded sustained serious wounds, but were in stable condition.
"We brought him in last night and he is now being interrogated," said one police official. "He does not appear to be mentally ill."
"The punishment for such serious crimes is usually quick and severe," the police official said, suggesting Guan would be executed if found guilty.
BEIJING (Reuters) - Chinese police have arrested a butcher accused of hacking to death four food inspectors and seriously wounding three after they confiscated his meat, newspapers and officials said on Friday
It took 700 policemen 14 hours to catch Guan Jiadong, 35, who fled on a motorbike after running amok, chasing terrified inspectors down the street with a long knife in each hand and turning back at one point to hack at two writhing in blood, they said.
About 50 inspectors going over an open-air market in the northeastern city of Shenyang on Thursday morning found Guan did not have a license for his stall and deemed his meat not up to standard, the Liaoshen Evening News said.
It quoted witnesses as saying the outraged butcher plunged into the group and struck down one inspector.
The other inspectors fled with Guan chasing them down the street, hacking and stabbing at them, the witnesses were quoted as saying.
Police confirmed four inspectors lay dead as Guan dropped his knives and rode off and hospital officials said the three wounded sustained serious wounds, but were in stable condition.
"We brought him in last night and he is now being interrogated," said one police official. "He does not appear to be mentally ill."
"The punishment for such serious crimes is usually quick and severe," the police official said, suggesting Guan would be executed if found guilty.
