4 Iowa college instructors attacked while visiting park in China

Lina Portman3 weeks ago

2 1 minute read

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

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

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

U.S. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks said two of the victims were in critical condition and undergoing surgery. She has been in contact with two of the affected families, as well as U.S. 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 random. We don't know of any other motivation.

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

David Zabner is a doctoral candidate in computer science education at Tufts University in Massachusetts, but he was working with Cornell during the education program, his brother said. He is recovering after suffering an arm injury in the attack.

The U.S. State Department said in a statement that it was aware of reports of a stabbing and was monitoring the situation, according to the Associated Press.

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

“Cornell Community,

We have learned that four Cornell instructors teaching through a partnership with a university in China were injured in a serious incident during a daytime visit to a public park while accompanied by a professor at the partner institution.

We have been in contact with all four instructors and are assisting them during this time. No students participated in this program.