Recently, there have been multiple personal extremist incidents in China, some of which have resulted in significant casualties, severely impacting social stability and order. I previously wrote an article titled Some Thoughts on Homicide Prevention that briefly outlined and introduced the prevention and control of conventional homicides, from theory to practice. However, the content was quite broad, and there are notable differences in specific prevention strategies compared to the current personal extremist incidents aimed at societal revenge. Here, I will supplement my thoughts on preventing personal extremist incidents.

Differences Between Personal Extremist Incidents Aimed at Revenge and Ordinary Homicides

As the saying goes, “Every grievance has its source, and every debt has its debtor.” Generally, in ordinary homicides, the majority of perpetrators target specific individuals or groups with whom they have specific interactions. Except for cases involving individuals with severe mental disorders, random killings are rare.

1. Criminal Motives Shift from Personal Grievances to Societal Dissatisfaction

In comparison, the motives for ordinary homicides are usually more personal, involving personal grudges, financial disputes, or emotional entanglements. Perpetrators typically resort to extreme measures to resolve personal issues or satisfy personal desires. In contrast, personal extremist incidents aimed at societal revenge often stem from intense dissatisfaction or hatred toward society, the government, specific groups, or individuals. The perpetrators may feel marginalized, unjustly treated, or have experienced significant psychological trauma, hoping to express their discontent through extreme actions and even seeking to cause widespread panic and attention.

2. Behavioral Patterns Shift from Covert Targeting to Public Execution

Generally, the behavioral patterns of ordinary homicides are more covert, with perpetrators choosing secluded locations to avoid detection. The criminal acts are usually more direct and targeted, often not involving large-scale violence. In contrast, personal extremist incidents aimed at societal revenge typically involve large-scale violent acts, with perpetrators choosing public places or crowded areas to maximize casualties and panic. The perpetrators may plan in advance, even leaving behind manifestos or videos expressing their grievances and motives.

3. Impact Expands from Localized to Widespread Panic

The impact of ordinary homicides is usually limited to the victims and their families, with relatively minor societal repercussions. Even if these cases attract widespread attention, unless they involve special backgrounds or circumstances, the general public is unlikely to feel personally threatened or panicked. However, personal extremist incidents aimed at societal revenge quickly garner intense societal attention, causing widespread panic and, in some cases, even leading to local or broader social unrest. The perpetrators’ actions may be widely reported by the media, leading to a decline in public sense of security and potentially triggering a copycat effect.

Additionally, there are some differences between personal extremist incidents aimed at societal revenge and terrorist attacks. The latter are often motivated by political, religious, or ideological reasons, aiming to achieve specific political or social goals through violence, and usually involve organized planning.

Differences Between the Current Wave of Personal Extremist Incidents and Previous Similar Cases

Personal extremist incidents aimed at societal revenge have always existed. I have been involved in the prevention and control of some types of extremist incidents in my work. For example, just before the 100th anniversary in 2021, relevant authorities issued an urgent notice demanding the prevention of personal extremist incidents aimed at societal revenge. In the two weeks prior, multiple extreme violent crimes aimed at societal revenge occurred across the country, resulting in 11 deaths and 40 injuries.

1. On May 22 at 11:40 AM, Liu, a 31-year-old from Dalian, committed a crime by driving into pedestrians, resulting in 5 deaths and 5 injuries. According to police investigations, Liu, the perpetrator, had lost confidence in life due to investment failures and developed a desire for societal revenge.

2. On May 25, Wu from Anyang, Henan, attacked people on the street with a stick, injuring 12 students and 2 civilians. Police investigations revealed that Wu, a 66-year-old retired worker, was dissatisfied with his life and loneliness, leading to his desire for societal revenge.

3. On the evening of May 29, a “car ramming and stabbing incident” occurred in Nanjing, injuring 7 people. The perpetrator, Ji, a 41-year-old man, attacked his ex-wife due to emotional disputes. Several bystanders confronted the knife-wielding assailant, with “Fat Brother from Nanjing” sustaining severe injuries.

4. On June 5 at 2:27 PM, a man wielding a large knife randomly attacked people on Renmin Road Pedestrian Street in Anqing, Anhui, resulting in 6 deaths and 14 injuries. Police investigations revealed that Wu, a 25-year-old unemployed man, committed the act out of frustration with his family life and a pessimistic outlook on life.

The most notable feature of the current wave of personal extremist incidents is the rare occurrence of significant casualties in some cases. In the November 11 car ramming incident in Zhuhai, an SUV plowed into a crowd at the Zhuhai Sports Center, resulting in 35 deaths and 43 severe injuries.

A similar incident occurred earlier in Hengyang, Hunan. On September 12, 2018, a Range Rover drove into a crowd at Mijiang Square in Hengdong County, causing 15 deaths, 6 severe injuries, and 28 minor injuries.

Even compared to the earlier Kunming Railway Station terrorist attack on March 1, 2014 (where 8 terrorists caused 31 deaths, 40 severe injuries, and 101 minor injuries), the casualties from the current wave of personal extremist incidents are significantly higher.

Prevention and Control Strategies for Personal Extremist Incidents Aimed at Societal Revenge

In the aforementioned article, I detailed general homicide prevention strategies, covering roughly 15 aspects. These prevention measures are implemented comprehensively and in coordination, playing a significant role in promoting long-term social safety and stability.

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1. **Key Time Period Prevention**: Analyze the peak periods for homicides each year and implement targeted measures. For example, the Chinese tradition of debt collection before the Lunar New Year often leads to violent incidents.
2. **Real-Time Analysis of Public Security Situations**: Use big data models by the police to analyze "police cases, criminal cases, public opinion, and social situations" in real-time, and organize corresponding response measures.
3. **Conflict Resolution**: Identify and resolve disputes that could escalate into criminal cases, such as family, financial, neighborhood, and demolition disputes, through early warning and follow-up resolution.
4. **Problem-Specific Rectification**: Conduct targeted rectification campaigns around local public security issues that could lead to homicides. For example, from 2018 to 2020, China conducted a three-year campaign against organized crime, dismantling 3,644 criminal organizations and arresting 237,000 suspects.
5. **Preventing Civil Disputes from Escalating into Criminal Cases**: Strengthen the connection between civil mediation, litigation, and petitioning to ensure disputes are resolved through legal channels, preventing individuals from resorting to private violence.
6. **"Peaceful Family" Campaign**: Promote family harmony through traditional moral education to prevent family disputes from escalating into homicides. Family disputes remain one of the leading causes of homicides.
7. **Management of Floating Populations**: Strengthen the monitoring of individuals with criminal records and potential transient criminals, dynamically tracking population information to prevent crimes by outsiders. In the 1980s, China experienced several severe transient homicide cases, the brutality of which still shocks people today.
8. **Management of Idle Youth**: Provide one-on-one assistance to unemployed and out-of-school youth, promoting their employment and education to prevent them from going astray.
9. **Management of Individuals with Severe Mental Disorders**: Implement a hierarchical management system for individuals with severe mental disorders, ensuring guardianship and treatment. In recent years, as homicide rates in China have declined, the issue of crimes committed by individuals with mental disorders has become more prominent. Through years of effort, this issue has been largely controlled.
10. **Management of Special Populations**: Strengthen the daily management of individuals released from prison, community correction personnel, and drug addicts. Provide ideological education, psychological counseling, and crisis intervention for individuals prone to violence after drinking or those threatening revenge.
11. **Comprehensive Public Security Prevention**: Use technological means to enhance crime prevention, increase police patrols, and improve the visibility of police presence to deter potential criminal behavior.
12. **Management of Key Industries and Venues**: Strengthen the management of venues prone to brawls and disturbances, such as night markets, karaoke bars, mahjong parlors, and small hotels. Strictly control firearms, explosives, and toxic substances.
13. **Campus Security Management**: Enhance patrols around schools, improve campus security facilities, and establish systems to prevent campus violence and bullying.
14. **Case-Based Legal Education**: Use various legal education methods to promote legal awareness, increase legal aid, and guide the public to resolve disputes and protect their rights through legal channels.
15. **Social Emotion Monitoring and Psychological Counseling**: Provide psychological counseling and crisis intervention for groups with prominent conflicts, life frustrations, psychological imbalances, and abnormal behaviors to improve their resilience and adaptability, preventing personal extremist violent crimes.

From the perspective of overall homicide prevention, the occurrence of the current wave of personal extremist incidents highlights several weaknesses in the current prevention and control system. These include insufficient prevention capabilities in key locations, inadequate monitoring and control of key individuals, and incomplete safety net systems. Additionally, these issues are somewhat related to external changes and economic development. From a symptomatic treatment perspective, at least the following areas need significant improvement:

Prevention in Key Locations

Although after the Hengyang 9·12 incident, China significantly increased the construction of anti-ramming facilities in key locations such as squares, stations, and schools, the coverage and effectiveness of these facilities still need further enhancement. Some key locations have not yet implemented these measures due to various constraints, some facilities are damaged or ineffective, and some lack sufficient defensive capabilities. For example, in the Zhuhai 11·11 incident, the Zhuhai Sports Center, a key public area, had anti-ramming facilities in place, but they failed to provide adequate protection. In the Dongping Foshan Middle School 9·3 incident (which resulted in 11 deaths and 13 injuries but has not yet been classified as intentional) and the Changde Yong’an Primary School 11·19 incident, while the school’s protective facilities could withstand general vehicle impacts, the gathering of parents and students at the school gates during peak hours still posed significant safety risks.

As a parent of two children, I have also observed during school drop-offs and pick-ups, as well as during school patrols, that some schools face objective constraints that make it difficult to provide adequate protection at the school gates. For these schools, more emphasis should be placed on rationalizing pick-up and drop-off times, increasing police presence, and adding mobile protective facilities. I understand that education departments at all levels are currently conducting urgent inspections and rectifications, which should significantly improve safety at school gates and surrounding areas.

Control of Key Populations

Recently, the concept of the “Five Lost Groups” has gained popularity online, referring to individuals who have experienced investment failures, life frustrations, relationship breakdowns, psychological imbalances, or mental disorders. This is the first time I have encountered this term, and I find it somewhat surprising. After repeated verification, I believe this concept originated in the field of enterprise management but has been co-opted to fit the current public discourse.

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1. **Employees with Investment Failures**
   - Real Estate Investment Failures: In some regions, property prices have plummeted or projects have been abandoned, leading to asset depreciation and increased financial and psychological pressure.
   - Stock Investment Failures: Despite favorable market conditions, stock price fluctuations can lead to significant losses, wiping out hard-earned savings.
   - Trust Investment Failures: High-interest trust products are prone to defaults, leaving employees without expected returns and facing financial difficulties.
   - Business Investment Failures: Family members' failed business ventures can result in financial losses and debt, severely impacting personal finances.
   - Online Scams: In an increasingly complex online environment, employees may fall victim to scams, losing substantial savings and facing financial hardship.

2. **Employees with Relationship Breakdowns**
   - Marital Discord: Frequent arguments, emotional distance, or impending divorce can create a tense and oppressive family atmosphere.
   - Workplace Discord: Poor relationships with superiors or colleagues can lead to unfair treatment, excessive criticism, or workplace isolation.
   - Sibling Discord: Conflicts over property division or parental care can cause family tensions.
   - Parent-Child Discord: Generational gaps and differing life views can lead to intense arguments with parents.
   - Child-Parent Discord: Issues in child education and upbringing can create distance and disharmony between parents and children.
   - Friend Discord: Conflicts over interests or personality clashes can lead to the loss of social support networks.

3. **Employees with Life Frustrations**
   - Emotional Trauma: Breakups or divorces can cause deep emotional pain and distrust in relationships.
   - Family Decline: Sudden economic downturns, such as business failures, can lead to a significant decline in family prosperity and quality of life.
   - Victimization: Physical violence or sexual harassment can cause severe psychological and physical trauma.
   - Chronic Illness: Serious illnesses can lead to physical suffering and financial strain from medical expenses.

4. **Employees with Psychological Imbalances**
   - Depression: A lack of enthusiasm for life and work, leading to listlessness and a lack of motivation.
   - Career Stagnation: Years of effort without promotion prospects can lead to feelings of stagnation and disappointment.
   - Unemployment: Layoffs or business restructuring can lead to uncertainty about future income and career prospects.

5. **Employees with Mental Disorders**
   - Social Withdrawal: A tendency to avoid social interactions and prefer solitude.
   - Irritability: Easily agitated and impatient with others, often prone to outbursts.
   - Hallucinations: Experiencing unreal sights or sounds, indicating severe mental health issues.
   - Depression: Persistent low mood, lack of interest in activities, and suicidal thoughts or behaviors.

While this concept broadly captures the groups that need attention from a societal governance perspective, it is somewhat of a mixed bag. Each group requires further subdivision, making it more suitable for general discussion rather than direct classification. In practical work, the control of key populations typically includes individuals released from prison, drug addicts, individuals with severe mental disorders, homeless individuals, domestic violence perpetrators, special minors, and idle individuals with criminal records.

I have been involved in the control of key populations for many years, including the resettlement and assistance of individuals released from prison, the treatment and assistance of individuals with severe mental disorders, and the prevention of juvenile delinquency. I have witnessed these measures evolve from being full of loopholes to becoming more robust and comprehensive. Although there are still many shortcomings in practical work—for example, as I mentioned in Some Stereotypes About the Judicial Bureau, many local judicial bureaus struggle to manage resettlement and assistance targets effectively: A quick search on WeChat reveals that many local judicial bureaus claim zero recidivism among resettlement and assistance targets in recent years. However, the recidivism rates for crimes like theft, robbery, and fraud remain high, largely because the information on many released prisoners is not entered into the resettlement and assistance system by prisons and detention centers. This leaves the judicial bureaus largely working in a vacuum, focusing on low-recidivism individuals and achieving little in terms of prevention.—these tasks are not accomplished overnight. They often require more administrative resources or greater allocation of existing resources to be effective.### Key Conflict Resolution

Based on various online information, the Zhuhai incident originated from the perpetrator’s own family conflicts. The perpetrator came from a relatively well-off family, living off assets and investments, essentially part of the rentier class. However, in pursuit of greater benefits, they chose to challenge traditional moral norms by using a “fake divorce” to circumvent housing policies and administrative burdens. Eventually, the “fake divorce” turned into a real divorce, and during the property division process, family conflicts escalated into legal proceedings. Due to a lack of understanding of litigation risks and an inability to accept the court’s ruling, the perpetrator developed a vengeful mentality, ultimately driving into a crowd of innocent people like a beast. The timing of the crime, during a significant national event, suggests an intent to disrupt and hinder national progress.

The transformation of civil disputes into criminal cases, and further into homicides, has always been a critical issue in homicide prevention. The responsibility to prevent ordinary civil disputes from escalating into criminal cases or even homicides falls on almost all state organs, enterprises, public institutions, people’s organizations, and social groups. In my previous articles on homicide prevention, I have analyzed the theoretical basis of this responsibility, primarily the “theory of contradictions among the people.” The core of the follow-up work at the national level, drawing lessons from the 11/11 incident, remains strengthening risk prevention at the source and timely resolution of conflicts and disputes; combining prevention and control to effectively address risks and social conflicts.

As I am in Guangdong, I have recently attended multiple emergency meetings at various levels and across different departments, all centered on how to learn from the 11/11 incident and implement further preventive measures. The most crucial aspect is the comprehensive integration of efforts to strengthen the resolution of social conflicts and disputes. However, the implementation of policies and measures is not something that can be achieved immediately upon the issuance of a national document. More often, it requires long-term struggle, refinement, and effort. Nevertheless, the bloody lessons from incidents like 11/11 can undoubtedly accelerate the precision, comprehensiveness, and effectiveness of homicide prevention measures. Even if oversights occur in the future, the trend of strengthening homicide prevention is irreversible.

Other Aspects to Note

In this wave of individual extreme cases involving social revenge, a non-traditional risk has garnered significant attention from online public opinion: the issue of judicial fairness. The focus of this concern lies in the gender composition of judicial personnel.

In recent years, the hype around gender issues has become a significant trend in online discourse, exemplified by the Changsha truck driver case. In the 11/11 incident, a promotional article from a trial court in Zhuhai Intermediate Court, which claimed that the entire trial court consisted of female judges, was widely circulated. This raised questions about whether a court composed entirely of female judges might show bias towards female litigants. As the relevant judicial rulings have not been made public, and a judgment document from a district court in Guangzhou circulating online has been confirmed to be unrelated to the incident, it is currently impossible to determine whether the case was handled by female judges. However, such online skepticism cannot be entirely dismissed as baseless speculation.

In an article I wrote last year, 11 Years Later, Returning to Work at the Court Again, I mentioned the phenomenon of a high proportion of female judges in courts. The proportion of female employees in courts is relatively high. In China, as law is classified as a humanities subject, there are often more female students studying law, while male students predominantly choose science and engineering fields. Therefore, the proportion of female employees in courts is relatively high. In the four courts I have worked in, the proportion of female employees generally exceeds 60%. In the most recent court I visited, about 70% of employees born after 1980 are female. It is commonly believed that women tend to be more sensitive in character, while men tend to be more rational. However, law itself leans towards rationality. I also expressed some concerns about the current training and appointment models for judicial personnel. Due to the relative independence of court work, court personnel have limited interaction with other government departments and social members. Their perspectives and problem-solving methods may differ from the public, leading to a certain degree of social dysfunction. For example, in this experience, we found that some judges were sued by their neighbors because they could not effectively handle neighborhood disputes. Others lacked social experience in handling simple litigation cases arising from conflicts in family, school, or workplace settings due to their limited participation in social activities. Additionally, some young judges assumed judicial positions in their early twenties, lacking personal experience in relationships, marriage, and divorce, yet had to mediate divorce cases for others, leading to complaints from the parties involved. However, I still believe that even if female judges preside over such marriage and family cases, it is not inappropriate. Overall, women and children remain the objects of special legal protection, and it is entirely appropriate for courts to provide special care to women and children in marriage and family cases in accordance with the law. We should not negate the necessity of special protection for women and children based on a few attention-grabbing cases online. However, in the appointment and employment of judges, it is still necessary to consider individuals with richer social experience, at least those with harmonious family lives. Otherwise, a judge who has never been married or has a chaotic family life presiding over marriage and family cases is indeed more likely to cause problems. After all, a distinctive feature of marriage and family cases, compared to other types of cases, is the highest level of application of “emotion” (reason, sentiment, and law).