Is China covering up a violent attack at a Beijing market?

The videos are unverified. But when The Economist visited the site of the market the following day, it was surrounded by dozens of police officers and local volunteers wearing the red armbands typical of Communist Party members. A vehicle from China’s SWAT police was parked nearby. When asked, a police officer refused to say if anything had happened. But if there had been an attack, he ventured, mental illness would probably be to blame, and the perpetrator would no doubt be in custody. “China’s police are very effective,” he said. His colleagues then prevented questions being posed to local residents….