A 47-year-old man surnamed Hu drove an excavator into the Fengdong New City Government Service Centre in Xixian New Area, Shaanxi province, China, on Monday, 9 November 2026. The rampage lasted nearly an hour and was captured on video that has since gone viral.
The machine struck the entrance steps, the main signboard and the glass doors of Building 1. At least six sections of the complex were damaged in the incident.
Police received a report at around 11 am. The suspect was detained and placed under criminal coercive measures. No injuries were reported, and the service centre resumed normal operations later that afternoon.
What is known about the motive
Local media linked the act to an alleged dispute over unpaid compensation for villagers whose homes had been demolished. One report said Hu was dissatisfied with compensation for the demolition of his fish farm.
A chant of "Give back the money I earned through blood and sweat" was heard over a loudspeaker in the footage of the incident.
Authorities have not officially confirmed a motive, and the circumstances remain under investigation. The compensation link should be treated as alleged, not as an established fact.
The incident has drawn wide attention online, with the footage showing the excavator smashing through the front of the building while onlookers watched.
For now, the man remains in custody while police continue their investigation into what led to the rampage.
