American murdered by Chinese knifeman on first day of Olympics

An American man was murdered and his wife and their tour guide seriously injured in Beijing yesterday when a Chinese man went ‘berserk’ with a knife on the first day of the Olympics.

Todd and Barbara Bachman were sightseeing with their daughter, former Olympian Elisabeth, who is married to the U.S. men’s volleyball team coach Hugh McCutcheon. 

Mr Bachman was chief executive of his family’s £40million home and garden centre business based in Lakeville, Minnesota, and also a major philanthropist.

They were visiting an ancient landmark – the 13th century Drum Tower, three miles from the main Olympic site – when they became involved in a row with a stranger, named as 47-year-old Tang Yongming.

Witnesses told The Mail on Sunday that their attacker, who apparently spoke English, ‘slashed wildly’ at the group, killing Mr Bachman instantly. He then climbed up the tower and clung to a rail for 30 minutes, before jumping to his death.

Inexplicably, police took nearly 90 minutes to reach the scene and US diplomats were said last night to be seeking an urgent explanation for the delay.

In keeping with China’s determination to control anything that could damage its reputation, officers warned witnesses not to speak to journalists.

Chinese forensic officers leave the Drum Tower after investigating the murder

The killing cast a shadow over the Games, which opened amid unprecedented levels of security with a spectacular ceremony on Friday. It left the US volleyball squad – of which the couple’s daughter was once a member – ‘deeply shocked’.

Jim Easton, an American member of the International Olympic Committee, said: ‘It appears to be a random attack by a deranged man.’

Mrs Bachman and the unnamed tour guide were being treated last night
at the Peking Union Medical College Hospital. Her daughter was not injured. 

One witness said that an argument between the group and Yongming, from Hangzhou in Zhejiang Province, began in the square in front of the ancient landmark at about 12.20pm local time.

Officers investigate the spot where Mr Bachman was killed

The woman said: ‘Both men were shouting very loudly at each other but I couldn’t understand what they were saying because they were speaking in English. This went on for a few minutes.

'Then the Chinese guy lifted a knife and slashed wildly at these people. He went berserk and was screaming all the time. I do not know if he knew that these people were Americans but perhaps he did because he was speaking English.

‘They fell to the ground and there was a lot of blood. The man then ran in a panic to the Drum Tower, which is not open to the public.
‘

He found a way in and then appeared at the second floor. Everyone assumed he would jump straight away but he clung to a rail for half an hour. It wasn’t clear if he jumped or fell but he landed on his stomach.

‘He appeared to be breathing and his leg was moving but the ambulance people – who took 20 minutes to arrive – couldn’t revive him.’ 

Attacks on foreigners are rare in Beijing, and Olympics organisers have repeatedly stressed that the Games would be safe.

In recent weeks, the Chinese government has tightened security throughout the capital, reinforcing the usual police units with paramilitary officers and soldiers. More than 300,000 CCTV cameras have also been installed.

Police blocked off streets leading to the Drum Tower after the attack, and cordoned off the area with yellow tape.

Built in the 13th Century, the Tower – named after its method of marking the hours – is one of the few ancient structures still standing in Beijing. It is situated just north of the Forbidden City.