Olympics not so safe....
Beijing Olympics: Chinese man 'murders US tourist'
An American was murdered and another seriously injured when a Chinese man with a knife attacked them at a tourist site in Beijing before committing suicide.
By David Eimer in Beijing and Andrew Alderson
A Chinese security guard locks the gate at the historic Drum Tower where Todd Bachman was murdered in Beijing Photo: AFP/GETTY
Todd Bachman, father of 2004 volleyball Olympian Elisabeth Bachman, was killed and his wife Barbara seriously injured following the attack at a popular Beijing tourist site.
They were stabbed several times at the Drum Tower monument in the city centre.
Their assailant then committed suicide by jumping from the second storey of the 13th century landmark. The motive for the attack remains a mystery, especially as it is rare for foreigners in China to be the victims of violent crime.
The attack, which also resulted in their female Chinese guide being injured, happened despite high security across the capital on the first full day of Olympic competition, with more than 150,000 police and other personnel on patrol.
The violence contrasted with the joy of the previous day when four billion people worldwide - and 91,000 in the "Bird's Nest" stadium - saw the most dazzling opening ceremony in the history of the Games.
The Chinese man was named by officials last night as 47-year-old Tang Yongming, from the eastern Chinese city of Hangzhou.
"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 International Olympic Committee said in a statement.
Chinese police are investigating whether the assailant had a history of mental illness.
The attack happened at the popular tourist attraction, which is three miles from the main Olympics site, at 12.20 pm local time. An estimated 450,000 foreign tourists are expected to be in Beijing for the Games, which runs until August 24.
The attack happened the day before US President George W Bush - in Beijing to attend the Games - is due to meet Chinese President Hu Jintao.
The US Embassy in Beijing dealt with the aftermath of the attack. "I can tell you that we are working with the family and the Chinese authorities as we speak," Richard Buangan, an Embassy spokesman, said.
US embassy officials were despatched to the hospital where the two injured survivors were taken by ambulance. Neither the murder victim nor the two injured people have been identified.
Police cordoned off the streets surrounding the Drum Tower immediately after the incident. The streets later re-opened, but the Drum Tower remained closed.
Locals at the many restaurants and shops in the area claimed not to have seen the incident or to know anything about it, raising speculation that they had been ordered not to speak to foreign journalists by the police. The Chinese authorities appear determined to bury any "bad news" during the Games.
"No country is a 100% safe. These things can happen anywhere," Ge Sang Lamu Cuo, the owner of a nearby Tibetan handicrafts shop told The Sunday Telegraph.
The US Embassy said it would not be issuing new guidelines on safety to its citizens in Beijing in the wake of the killing.
"I think that this is an isolated incident and has nothing to do with the Olympics," Susan Stevenson, the US Embassy Press Attache said. China remains one of the safest countries in the world for foreigners.
"A night in Beijing is far safer than daylight in most American cities," said Ryan Zweng, a 23 year-old student from San Francisco who lives near the Drum Tower.
"Beijing has been so friendly and welcoming that this is just bizarre. I still think it's a safe city but I guess I'll be a bit more aware now."