Four US university professors injured in stabbing attack in China

Four American university professors were injured Monday in a stabbing attack in a park in China, officials said.

Teachers at Cornell College in Mount Vernon, Iowa, were injured in the northeastern province of Jilin while participating in a partnership program with local Beihua University, according to the college. China's Foreign Ministry on Tuesday called the incident a random attack, according to Reuters.

“We have been in contact with and are assisting all four instructors during this time,” Cornell College President Jonathan Brand said in a statement to CNN. He said no students at the small liberal arts school participated in the program.

Graphic video footage appearing to show the aftermath of the attack was shared on Chinese social media on Monday and has since circulated on other platforms. The clips show two men and a woman lying on the ground, all conscious and using cell phones.

One of the men has a large amount of blood on his clothing, while another holds a bloody hand to his lower back, possibly compressing a wound.

Beijing's Foreign Ministry confirmed that four “foreign professors from Beihua University were attacked” in Jilin's Beishan Park on Monday morning. All victims were transported for medical treatment and none appeared to have suffered life-threatening injuries.

“Police initially determined that this was an isolated incident and is currently being further investigated,” ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said at a news conference. Jian added that the incident “would not affect normal exchanges between the people of the United States and China.”

It is not known if a suspect has been arrested or what the motive for the attack could be. The State Department said it was aware of the reported “stabbing incident” and was monitoring the situation.

Iowa State Rep. Adam Zabner told CBS News that his brother, David Zabner, was among the victims. He said his brother, who was on his second trip to China with Cornell, was part of a group visiting a local temple when a man armed with a knife attacked him. He said David was stabbed in the arm and was currently recovering in hospital.

“I am extremely grateful that my brother is okay and that he survived this attack,” the lawmaker told CNN.

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds said in a statement that she was “in contact with the Iowa federal delegation and the Department of State in response to this horrific attack.” “Please pray for their full recovery, safe return and for their families here at home,” she added.

Rep. Ashley Hinson (R-IA) also said her team is working to get victims home safely and encouraged others to join her in praying for their health and safety. She wrote on X that she was “horrified” to learn that Cornell professors had been “brutally stabbed in China.”