Knife attack on kindergarten children in Zurich-Oerlikon: Trial against 24-year-old begins
A Chinese student allegedly severely wounded three five-year-old children in Zurich-Oerlikon on 1 October 2024 – planned over weeks, partly with ChatGPT.
Prosecution: Student planned knife attack on children with help of ChatGPT
On Tuesday afternoon, 1 October 2024, kindergarten children in Zurich-Oerlikon went to their after-school care as usual – accompanied by a supervisor. At Berninaplatz, a 24-year-old man attacked the group. Three five-year-old boys were seriously injured with a knife. The public prosecutor's office accuses Han L.* of multiple attempted murder. Next week he appears before Zurich District Court. Blick has obtained the indictment.
Weeks of preparation
Han L. comes from Chengdu in south-western China. He came to Switzerland in 2023 to complete his master's degree at the University of Zurich. Neighbours described him as quiet and withdrawn. According to the prosecution, he became increasingly unhappy in Switzerland and felt disrespected. No later than early August 2024, he is said to have decided to kill someone.
On 8 August 2024, according to the public prosecutor's office, he asked the artificial intelligence application ChatGPT about the "legal consequences of various methods of killing random victims by stabbing". After that, he is said to have decided to choose children as victims. Over the following weeks, he ordered clothing for the act and a set of four kitchen knives of different sizes.
On 18 September, he asked ChatGPT again – this time he wanted to know where and when he could find children in Zurich. Ten days later, according to the indictment, he studied anatomical depictions of the human head, neck and torso as well as blood vessels via Google and ChatGPT. On 30 September, he bought beef to practise stabbing and cutting motions on it.
Crime scene and date deliberately chosen
The public prosecutor's office emphasises that the date is no accident. Han L. deliberately chose 1 October – China's National Day. At midday, he published patriotic content on Instagram, including a stance against Taiwanese independence. He is also said to have made disparaging remarks about a former girlfriend from China.
After that, according to the prosecution, he left his flat with two knives.
Seriously injured children, one barely survived
At Berninaplatz, Han L. caught up with the group of kindergarten children. With an 8.5 centimetre blade, he stabbed repeatedly at those children within his reach. The after-school care supervisor intervened, held him back – whereupon he gave up. Police arrested him at the scene.
Three five-year-old boys were injured. One suffered stab wounds to the collarbone, neck and shoulder and had to undergo emergency surgery. Han L. is said to have stabbed a second boy twice in the chest, with one stab hitting the heart – the child barely survived. The third boy was wounded in the ear and lung.
Confession and prosecution's demands
After his arrest, Han L. confessed. Since April 2025, he has been in pre-release detention at Pöschwies Correctional Facility.
The public prosecutor's office describes in the indictment a man who acted out of "mere spite, desire for recognition and ideological delusion". It demands a prison sentence of 15 years, outpatient treatment and a 15-year deportation order.
Han L.'s defence lawyer declines to comment to Blick at present. The presumption of innocence applies.
The hearing takes place on Thursday, 17 September, before Zurich District Court.
*Name known to the editorial office.
Source: Blick