Zurich court sentences Chinese student to 15 years for daycare knife attack

A Zurich court has sentenced a 23-year-old Chinese student to 15 years in prison for the attempted murder of several children in October 2024. The attack occurred on a residential street in the Canton of Zurich as children were walking to a daycare center, resulting in injuries to three five-year-old boys.

Prosecutors argued that the attack was premeditated. Evidence presented during the trial indicated that the man had used ChatGPT in the months leading up to the incident to inquire about the criminal consequences of stabbing victims and to seek information regarding human anatomy. While the defense argued that the defendant was suffering from mental health issues and hearing voices, the prosecution dismissed these claims, noting that such symptoms were not mentioned during initial investigations.

The perpetrator, reportedly a master's student at the University of Zurich, was subdued at the scene by a daycare worker and a passerby. The court described the defendant's actions as “coldly” and “without scruple.” The man has indicated his intention to appeal the verdict.