The International Olympic Committee (IOC) released a statement Saturday saying it is deeply saddened to learn of a tragic incident earlier today that involved two relatives of a coach for the United States Olympic Men’s Indoor Volleyball Team.
According to the United States Olympic Committee, while visiting the Drum Tower tourist site in Beijing near the Forbidden City two of the coach’s family members were subjected to a violent attack, with one person killed and the other seriously injured.
The knife-wielding Chinese man who attacked the two relatives then committed suicide by throwing himself from the second story of the site, the 13th century Drum Tower, three miles from the main Olympics site.
The IOC said it will provide whatever assistance is required, is in close contact with the U.S. Olympic Committee, and is also working closely with Chinese authorities to obtain information on the incident as soon as possible.
