Chinese authorities said the 10-year-old boy, a Japanese citizen whose father is Japanese and mother is Chinese, was stabbed on his way to school at around 8 a.m. on September 18 by a 44-year-old attacker surnamed Zhong.

Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa said the boy passed away early on the morning of September 19.

"Medical professionals have made every effort to save the boy, and the Chinese side will provide the victim's family with necessary support to handle the situation," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said at a regular press conference in Beijing.

"According to the information available, this is an isolated case and such incidents can happen in any country," he added.

On the afternoon of September 19, people laid wreaths at the gate of a school in Shenzhen's wealthy Shekou district, home to most of the city's expatriate community and international schools.

"As Chinese people, we oppose this behavior, we oppose teachings of hatred," said a Shenzhen resident.

The local Japanese Chamber of Commerce has asked Japanese authorities to ensure the safety of its citizens in the area.

This is the second attack near a Japanese educational institution in China in recent months. In June, a man attacked a Japanese school bus in the eastern Chinese city of Suzhou, killing a Chinese national who tried to shield a Japanese mother and her child from the attacker.

Ngoc Anh (according to Reuters)