An unusual and serious incident has been reported in China, where a man drove an excavator into a government office complex in Fengdong district, Shaanxi province, damaging entrances, facades and other parts of the buildings. The incident, which according to reports lasted nearly an hour, prompted an emergency evacuation and a temporary shutdown of activity at the center.
Footage shows repeated strikes on the buildings
According to Al Jazeera’s report, the heavy vehicle was used to strike building entrances, glass doors, facades and other areas of the government complex.
Footage shared on social media shows the excavator moving within the institution’s grounds and causing destruction at several points across the complex, while onlookers watched from a distance.
At least six parts of the complex were affected
Damage was reported to several entrances and parts of the facades. At the entrance to Building 1, the stairs, the main sign and the glass doors were damaged.
Damage was also reported at the rear of the building and in other structures within the complex. In total, at least six parts of it appear to have been affected by the incident.
Panic and evacuation, special police forces intervened
The incident caused panic among employees and members of the public who were at the institution. According to witness accounts cited by Chinese media, the evacuation began as soon as it became clear that the situation was serious.
Later, according to the reported version, special police forces intervened at the scene and subdued the perpetrator. An employee said that about 20 officers took part in the operation.
Motive remains unclear
There are only preliminary leads regarding the reason for the act. Al Jazeera reported that one of the suspicions is linked to a dispute over financial compensation allegedly owed to residents of surrounding areas.
This claim has not been officially confirmed by the Chinese authorities. So far, the exact motive behind the incident remains under investigation.
Area sealed off, no official toll of injuries
After the incident, police cordoned off the area and began collecting evidence to document the damage and clarify the circumstances of the event.
The functioning of the government center was temporarily suspended, while some services gradually began to resume during the afternoon. In the latest reports, there was no official information about any injured persons.
The scenes from Fengdong have raised questions not only about the physical security of institutions, but also about how conflicts that may lie behind such violent outbursts are handled.
So far, the public versions remain limited and the authorities have not provided a full explanation of the motive behind the incident.