Four teachers from Iowa have been stabbed while visiting a public park in eastern China, their college has confirmed.
The instructors from Cornell College – a private liberal arts school – were wounded during a partnership trip to a local university.
Writing on social media, Representative Ashley Hinson of Iowa said: “Horrified that multiple Cornell College faculty members were brutally stabbed in China.
“My team has been in communication with Cornell College and will do everything in our power to bring these Iowans home safely.”
Video circulating on social media appears to show two of the wounded teachers lying on a footpath with huge blood stains on their clothing.
Iowa Representative Adam Zabner said his brother, David, is among the injured.
He added that the group of four had been to a local temple on Monday when they were set upon by a man with a knife.
Cornell College President Jonathan Brand said the tutors were at the park in Jilin with a faculty member from Beihua University when the attack occurred.
In an email, college spokesperson Jen Visser said the private school in Mount Vernon partners with Beihua University.
Details on the nature of the attack, the extent of the instructors’ injuries and whether the attack was targeted or random were unclear Monday. Visser said the college is still gathering information on what happened.
It occurred as both Beijing and Washington hope to maintain educational exchanges to benefit bilateral relations.
Chinese President Xi Jinping has unveiled a plan to invite 50,000 young Americans to China in the next five years, while Chinese diplomats say a travel advisory by the U.S. State Department has discouraged Americans from going to China.
Citing arbitrary detentions as well as exit bans that could prevent Americans from leaving the country, the State Department has issued the Level 3 travel advisory – the second highest warning level – for mainland China, urging Americans to “reconsider travel” there.
Some American universities have suspended their China programs due to the travel advisory.