Story By: John Feng, Sub Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency: Asia Wire Report

Video Credit: AsiaWire

This is the moment a man holding a meat cleaver suddenly hacks a young girl on the head out of the blue along a packed underpass before turning the blade on her grandmother who tries to protect her.

The seemingly random attack was captured on CCTV inside a crowded pedestrian underpass in the city of Xi’an, capital of north-western China’s Shaanxi Province, on 28th July.

In the footage showing the subway below the historical city’s Bell Tower landmark, the girl, 10, and her nan can be seen standing near the suspect surnamed Zhang, 25.

Pictures Credit: AsiaWire

Without warning, the man lifts the meat cleaver in his right hand and strikes at the young girl, chopping her on the head.

Her shocked grandmother begins shielding her as Zhang swings his blade five more times, injuring the elderly woman on the arm.

Witnesses rush over to try and stop the attack, with patrolling police officers also intervening, the video shows.

Officers in the city’s Beilin District charge the suspect who leans against the wall of the tunnel and puts both hands on his head.

He was later arrested and remains in custody as investigations continue.

The Beilin District Public Security Bureau said Zhang has a history of mental illness.

The motive behind his attack are still unclear.

Both the girl and her grandmother are receiving treatment in hospital but are not in any life-threatening condition, the police added.

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