Gut-wrenching footage has emerged of a disturbing incident on a public bus in Sichuan province. Captured yesterday via CCTV surveillance camera, the video shows a 7-year-old boy playfully pestering a seated man, who responds by body-slamming him to the floor and stomping violently on his head. (Editor’s note: due to the video’s highly disturbing nature, we have chosen not to display it in this post. Readers who wish to can view the footage here.)
The video quickly went viral on Chinese social media platforms prompting police in Suining city, where the incident occurred, to release a statement confirming that, after being kicked lightly three times by the small boy on the hand, the adult bus rider did indeed fly into a rage and dish out a violent and asymmetrical retaliation.
Miraculously, the child, who was traveling home solo after leaving school, managed to emerge without life-threatening injuries, according to Toutiao News. Scans of his skull, jaw and neck showed no fractures, though significant swelling was found on the left side of his face.
It is unclear what penalty will be dealt to the attacker, identified by police as a 21-year-old Mr. Guo from nearby Pengxi county, for his unforgivable behavior, but police have assured the public that they are proceeding with a thorough investigation.
What is nearly as disturbing as the shocking violence of the man’s assault, is the lack of intervention by many of the other passengers on the bus. Bystanderism in the face of public violence is a commonly-cited social problem in China, and a ‘Good Samaritan Law’ was passed late last year to try to combat the issue.
READ MORE: Exploring the Bystander Effect in China
[Images via Toutiao News]
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