http://news.brisbanetimes.com.au ... -20080809-3sp1.html
American stabbed to death in Beijing as Olympics get underway
A Chinese man stabbed to death the father-in-law of US Olympic volleyball coach Hugh McCutcheon in Beijing on Saturday in an attack that left his wife seriously injured, raising new fears about security at the Games.
Todd Bachman, his wife Barbara, their daughter Elisabeth and a Chinese guide were attacked as they visited the Drum Tower monument, a popular tourist site in the centre of the city, according to the US Olympic Committee (USOC).
The assailant, a 47-year-old man from eastern China, then jumped to his death off the second storey of the monument, police said in a statement, without giving details as to why he carried out the attack.
"The United States Olympic Committee is saddened to confirm the death of Todd Bachman, father-in-law of United States Olympic Men's Indoor Volleyball Head Coach Hugh McCutcheon," the USOC said on their website.
"Mr. Bachman and his wife Barbara were visiting the Drum Tower in Beijing, China, when they were attacked shortly after noon by an assailant wielding a knife.
"Their daughter Elisabeth was with them at the time of the attack.
"Mr. Bachman died as a result of injuries sustained in the attack. Mrs. Bachman suffered serious injuries and was transported to a local hospital for emergency treatment. Her injuries are serious and life-threatening."
Their daughter was not hurt, although police said the Chinese guide was.
The USOC added that the Bachmans were not wearing apparel that identified them as relatives of members of the US Olympic team and cited police as saying the killer acted alone.
Lang Ping, the coach of the US women's volleyball team, said the players were stunned when they heard of the death just before their opening win over Japan.
"We were shocked," said the coach. "Most of the players called their parents. I told them to be strong."
The attack occurred despite China deploying massive security in Beijing for the Olympics, with more than 150,000 police and other personnel on patrol across the city.
An estimated 450,000 foreigners are expected to come to Beijing for the Olympics, which opened on Friday night and will finish on August 24.
The killing also happened as US President George W. Bush was in the city to attend the Games and he expressed his condolences.
"The President has been informed and his heart goes out to the families of the victims," a White House official travelling with Bush said.
"The White House and US embassy have offered whatever assistance the family needs. US officials have also been in touch with Chinese authorities on the matter."
Acts of violence against foreigners in Beijing and throughout China are extremely rare, with expatriates happy to wander around the streets of the capital late at night.
However, foreigners have been victims of some high-profile attacks this year.
Last month, a Chinese man murdered a 22-year-old model in Shanghai and a Japanese embassy employee was slightly wounded in a knife attack in Beijing.
Chinese authorities have been clearly on edge over security in the lead-up to the Olympics, warning of a wide range of threats to people coming to Beijing for the event.
China has expressed most concern about Islamic terrorists trying to wreck the Games, and Chinese authorities said militants attacked and killed 16 policemen in the Muslim-populated far northwest of the country last week.
There was no indication that Saturday's incident had anything to with terrorism.
The Drum Tower is in the historic heart of Beijing. Together with the Bell Tower, the sites were once used for banging of drums and bells to tell time.
Now the Drum and Bell towers are tourist sites, with visitors able to stroll from them to the city's famed old lakes and other historic areas.
Police identified the attacker as Tang Yongming, from the eastern Chinese city of Hangzhou.
The Xinhua news agency said Tang was unemployed and had no previous criminal record. He was divorced and had a 21-year-old son.
