A Driver Crashed Into the Chinese Consulate in San Francisco
Police Call the Crash "Violent" Attack
Mark Christian Soo
October 11, 2023
On October 9, 2023, a blue Honda sedan crashed into the lobby of the visa office of the Chinese Consulate-General in Geary Boulevard, San Francisco.
Reports on October 11 followed up and explained that the driver of the car was killed in a shooting with the police, The New York Times reported.
A Chinese national witness, who spoke with the Associated Press, had been present waiting in line for visa services.
They described witnessing driving through the "main doors" at "full speed" before they crashed against the wall. The driver, who was witnessed bleeding at the scene, was reported screaming rhetoric about the CCP, which is an abbreviation for the Chinese Communist Party.
San Francisco police have officially stated that they are not clear on the motive for the driver's crash into the building's lobby, which had caused a "chaotic scene," at the consulate, ABC News reported on October 11.
The consulate described the scene as a "violent" attack.
Officers of the San Francisco Police Department (SFPD) responded at 3 PM, which led to a shooting incident. The unnamed driver died after he was brought to a hospital.
According to Sergii Molchanov, a university student at Stanford who spoke with local press, he heard the unnamed driver shout :
“Where is the CCP?”, referring to the Chinse Communist Party, after getting out of the sedan. The SFPD is coordinating an investigation of the incident with the State Department.
The Chinese Consulate released a statement and stated:
“The mission severely condemns this violent attack and reserves the right to pursue responsibilities related to the incident.” The incident comes as San Francisco is due to host the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in November 2023.