UPDATE - ‘Foreigner’ attacked Israeli man in Beijing: Chinese media

UPDATES WITH DETAILS FROM CHINESE STATE MEDIA; REVISES HEADLINE, DECK

By Riyaz ul Khaliq

ISTANBUL (AA) - A “foreign individual” attacked a staffer of the Israeli Embassy in China on Friday, Chinese state-run media reported.

The suspected attacker was a “foreign individual” and was apprehended by police in the capital Beijing’s Chaoyang district, according to the Global Times.

Earlier, the Israeli Foreign Ministry said: “An employee at the Israeli Embassy in Beijing was attacked on Friday, with the background of the attack unclear as of yet.”

The employee was hospitalized where his condition is said to be “stable.”

“The attack did not take place in the area near the embassy,” it added.

However, details shared by the Global Times, said: “A family member of an Israeli diplomat (male, 50) was stabbed by a foreign individual on Friday afternoon.”

“Initial investigation shows that the foreign suspect (male, 53) works in the small commodities business in Beijing. The case is still under further investigation,” the report added, citing local authorities.

The incident occurred amid a raging armed conflict between Israel and Palestinian groups that has resulted in the killing of over 3,000 people since last Saturday.