American tourist, related to U.S. coach, killed in Beijing

[Joetown Parrothead]

BEIJING — A 47-year-old Chinese man killed an American tourist, wounded his wife, then jumped to his death from an ancient downtown landmark, marring the first day of competition at the Summer Olympic Games, U.S. sports and government officials confirmed Saturday.
The American couple are relatives of a coach for the U.S. men's indoor volleyball team, U.S. Olympic Committee spokesman Darryl Seibel said. The victims were not immediately identified pending notification of relatives. But Seibel said the woman was in serious condition Saturday night at a Beijing hospital.




http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2008 ... titialskip

[C-Dawg]

This is from CBC, where I first heard it...

A knife-wielding Chinese man stabbed two relatives of a coach for the U.S. Olympic men's volleyball team on Saturday, killing one of them, team officials said.

A female tour guide for the couple was also wounded in the attack, in front of the popular tourist site called the Drum Tower in Beijing, said Susan Stevenson, a U.S. Embassy spokeswoman.

The attacker, identified as Tang Yongming, 47, then committed suicide after throwing himself from the second storey of the tower on the first day of competition at the Olympic Games.

"While at the Drum Tower in central Beijing, the two family members were stabbed during an attack by what local law enforcement authorities have indicated was a lone assailant," the U.S. Olympic Committee said in a statement.

The wife of the slain man and their Chinese tour guide were taken to a hospital in the city, said Stevenson, who did not release any other information.

The site has been sealed off and uniformed police are standing guard.

Phin Power to the coach, those in the hospital, his family and US Olympians.

[blackjack]

I'm sooooo glad China got these Olympics.

This was to be Beijing's "coming out" party. Let's hope they can keep the killing down to a minimum... both tourists and dissidents.

[ejr]

One can only imagine how the Chinese government will respond to this.

[springparrot]

[OceanCityGirl]

I'm sooooo glad China got these Olympics.

This was to be Beijing's "coming out" party. Let's hope they can keep the killing down to a minimum... both tourists and dissidents.

As much as I hate that China got the olympics and even considered boycotting coverage let's put this where it is. A crazy person which we have plenty of here.

[Dezdmona]

... let's put this where it is. A crazy person which we have plenty of here.

I tend to agree. But I thought they had the city crawling with cops...especially on tourist routes which this couple obviously was.

Sure hope the wife survives to tell the tale.

[blackjack]

I'm sooooo glad China got these Olympics.

This was to be Beijing's "coming out" party. Let's hope they can keep the killing down to a minimum... both tourists and dissidents.

As much as I hate that China got the olympics and even considered boycotting coverage let's put this where it is. A crazy person which we have plenty of here.

As long as the murder rate stays at 1 I am willing to go that route.

However, I am still waiting to see the smog and oppression, or lack thereof, before calling anything a victory for China.

[Dezdmona]

From the AP on the identity of the victims:

A person briefed on the incident says the victims of a deadly stabbing attack at a tourist site in Beijing on the first day of the Olympic Games were the in-laws of the U.S. men's volleyball coach.

The person told The Associated Press that Todd Bachman, the father of former Olympian Elisabeth Bachman, was killed. His wife, Barbara, was hospitalized.

Elisabeth Bachman is married to U.S. men's volleyball coach Hugh McCutcheon.

[Lightning Bolt]

Last night's Opening Ceremonies was probably the greatest ever...
and, the country's ecological health standards will likely be regarded as the worst ever.

Beauty and Harmony
Conflict and violence

The stark contrast will be probably be the hallmark of the Olympiad this month,
and of this awakening giant for a long time to come

[hawaiiboy]

I'm sooooo glad China got these Olympics.

This was to be Beijing's "coming out" party. Let's hope they can keep the killing down to a minimum... both tourists and dissidents.

I guess that there has never been anything bad like this ever happen
in any other Olympic host city
As has already been said...there are crazy people everywhere.

[creeky]

I'm sooooo glad China got these Olympics.

This was to be Beijing's "coming out" party. Let's hope they can keep the killing down to a minimum... both tourists and dissidents.

I guess that there has never been anything bad like this ever happen
in any other Olympic host city
As has already been said...there are crazy people everywhere.

Atlanta does come to mind ...

[Brown Eyed Girl]

I'm sooooo glad China got these Olympics.

This was to be Beijing's "coming out" party. Let's hope they can keep the killing down to a minimum... both tourists and dissidents.

I guess that there has never been anything bad like this ever happen
in any other Olympic host city
As has already been said...there are crazy people everywhere.

Atlanta does come to mind ...

And not Munich?

[creeky]

I'm sooooo glad China got these Olympics.

This was to be Beijing's "coming out" party. Let's hope they can keep the killing down to a minimum... both tourists and dissidents.

I guess that there has never been anything bad like this ever happen
in any other Olympic host city
As has already been said...there are crazy people everywhere.

Atlanta does come to mind ...

And not Munich?

I remembered the israeli hostages - but could not recall the country ....

I recall Atlanta more recently in my head tis all.

[Dutch Harbor PH]

I'm sooooo glad China got these Olympics.

This was to be Beijing's "coming out" party. Let's hope they can keep the killing down to a minimum... both tourists and dissidents.

I guess that there has never been anything bad like this ever happen
in any other Olympic host city
As has already been said...there are crazy people everywhere.

Atlanta does come to mind ...

I'm old enough to remember munich........

[Brown Eyed Girl]

There are definitely crazy people everywhere, I don't think anyone will argue that. Whether this was a random attack on tourists or one targeting Americans may never be known. But a bombing in Beijing on the heels of this attack doesn't bode well for a peaceful Olympics.

[blackjack]

I'm sooooo glad China got these Olympics.

This was to be Beijing's "coming out" party. Let's hope they can keep the killing down to a minimum... both tourists and dissidents.

I guess that there has never been anything bad like this ever happen
in any other Olympic host city
As has already been said...there are crazy people everywhere.

These Olympics aren't over yet.

[creeky]

There are definitely crazy people everywhere, I don't think anyone will argue that. Whether this was a random attack on tourists or one targeting Americans may never be known. But a bombing in Beijing on the heels of this attack doesn't bode well for a peaceful Olympics.

Not sure if the olympic officials know more than has been released - but it has been announced that aussie athletes and tourists, have been advised to wear their either their aussie tracksuit (if athlete) or something identifying them as australian if a tourist, so they are not mistaken as american

[Brown Eyed Girl]

There are definitely crazy people everywhere, I don't think anyone will argue that. Whether this was a random attack on tourists or one targeting Americans may never be known. But a bombing in Beijing on the heels of this attack doesn't bode well for a peaceful Olympics.

Not sure if the olympic officials know more than has been released - but it has been announced that aussie athletes and tourists, have been advised to wear their either their aussie tracksuit (if athlete) or something identifying them as australian if a tourist, so they are not mistaken as american

Supposedly they weren't wearing anything to identify them as Americans, but let's face it: tourists stand out, no matter what their nationality. It's not too difficult to pick out an American, Aussie, Brit etc, even if they don't open their mouths and aren't wearing clothing spelling out where they're from. I was at Legoland last week and I could pick out the caucasian folks from other countries very easily before I heard them speak.

I certainly don't blame the Aussies for wanting to distance themselves from Americans in that respect, but I don't want their choice of clothing to give them a false sense of security either. These are difficult times...no one is immune.

[UpstateNYPH]

I have walked all over Beijing, BY MYSELF, and never had an issue. Contrary to what a lot of you believe, it really is a safe city. Regardless of the Olympics, there are police everywhere. Crime in China is so much drastically lower than the U.S., I cant even begin to compare. It is almost impossible to own a gun (Even the Chinese mafias have difficulty getting them).

Now, granted I have street smarts and didnt walk down the streets screaming, "I am an American, you should all love G.W.", but I am a white guy who is definetly out of place.

This is just one of those freak attacks, and like someone said earlier, there are crazies everywhere, and no matter how safe a city, this WILL happen. I have even met some crazies who have sold me bootleg DVD's out of a suitcase in the back kitchen of a steakhouse. They are among us my friends.

Condolences to the families of this tragic event