Mall stabbings often take place in many countries, leading to many avoidable deaths and injuries every year. One of the latest shopping mall stabbings, according to multiple sources including the British Broadcasting Corporation, took place at the Ludu International Shopping Plaza in the Shanghai province of China that left three people dead and several others injured, leading to concerns. Many events of shopping mall stabbings, which are most often carried out by a single person, also took place in China and many other countries in Asia, Europe, Africa and other regions including, but not limited to, the United Kingdom, the United States, the United Arab Emirates, Australia and Germany in the past.
It is notable that there are grievance-based, terrorism-oriented and other reasons behind shopping mall stabbings in different countries. But there are country-wise differences in the causes. Poverty, unemployment and mental health issues are some of the causes of mall stabbings in many countries. But — importantly — racially or nationalistically revengeful mentality, terrorism and extremism lead to mall stabbings many times in many countries. Different groups often claim responsibility for mall attacks in different countries. Though racially or nationalistically revengeful mentality, terrorism and extremism often play a dominant vital role in many mall stabbings, economic and other reasons also play some roles many times. Among others, copycat crimes inspired by past incidents and gang violence also lead to mall stabbings in different counties.
Governments and others take law enforcement based and other steps that help address mall stabbings in different countries. Different countries including, but not limited to, the United States and China increase police presence and security checks in and around malls based on security threats to deter potential attackers, respond quickly in case of emergencies and bring attackers to justice, making it difficult to carry out attacks with knives, a weapon that is often easier to carry and conceal than other weapons. Among others, the governments implement stricter regulations on the sale and possession of knives to prevent individuals from easily obtaining weapons for malicious purposes and take awareness raising and other steps to address the causes including extremism.
But because of various flaws in the steps, it is difficult to address mall stabbings many times effectively. There remain inadequate security measures, inconsistent response protocols among different jurisdictions and a lack of mental health resources for potential perpetrators of the attacks with knives in crowded areas like shopping malls in different countries. Additionally, there is often a focus on reactive measures —rather than proactive strategies —to prevent these incidents from occurring in the first place. Among others, there is a failure to address the underlying societal and other issues including the grievances that contribute to the violent behaviors such as mall stabbings in many countries in Asia, Europe and other regions.
It is desired that shopping mall stabbings and their diverse reasons be addressed in different countries. But providing security checks and ensuring emergency response, along with bringing the perpetrators to justice, are definitely vital steps for fighting mall stabbings in many countries. Implementing emergency response drills for both mall staff and shoppers can also help ensure quick and effective reactions in the event of an attack in a crowded place like a shopping mall many times. But providing resources and support for the victims of mall stabbings and their families including counseling services and financial assistance for medical expenses is also vital.
But the emphasis also needs to be given to addressing the root causes of mall stabbings in order to prevent such tragedies worldwide —successfully. Strengthening mental health services and addressing extremism through non-force based steps including increasing tolerance can help successfully fight shopping mall stabbings. But, importantly, addressing economic and other grievances with various steps including providing economic opportunities for those who are deprived can also reduce the chance of mall stabbings in many countries.
