Murdered American was volleyball coach's relative

Beijing, Aug.10 (ANI): The American man who was killed on Saturday by a deranged Chinese was the father-in-law of the coach of the U.S. men's volleyball team.

He was identified as Todd Bachman.

Bachman and his wife Barbara were stabbed several times at the 13th century Drum Tower monument. Todd Bachman's daughter Elisabeth Bachman's husband, Hugh McCutcheon, is the head coach of the U.S. men's volleyball team. Their daughter witnessed the attack but escaped unhurt, reports The Telegraph.

The lone Chinese attacker subsequently committed suicide by jumping from the second storey of the tower. The motive for the murder remains a mystery, especially since it is rare for foreigners in China to suffer from violent crime.

The Bachman's Chinese guide was also injured in the attack, which happened despite high security across the capital, where more than 150,000 police and other personnel were on patrol.

The violence contrasted with the joy of Friday, when four billion people worldwide - and 91,000 in the Bird's Nest stadium - saw the most dazzling opening ceremony in the history of the Games.

The attacker was named by officials as 47-year-old Tang Yongming, from the eastern city of Hangzhou. Police are investigating whether the attacker had any history of mental illness.

The incident happened three miles from the main Olympic site at 12.20 p.m. local time. The city expects 450,000 foreign tourists during the Games, which run until August 24.

The US embassy said it would not be issuing new guidelines on safety to its citizens in Beijing in the wake of the killing. (ANI)