US tourist killed in Beijing attack

Beijing: An American tourist stabbed to death at a Beijing landmark on the first full day of Olympic competition was named as Todd Bachman, the father of a former Olympian.

Bachman and his wife Barbara, parents of 2004 volleyball Olympian Elisabeth "Wiz" Bachman and in-laws of US men's volleyball coach Hugh McCutcheon, were attacked by a Chinese man while visiting the 13th-century Drum Tower on Saturday.

The US Olympic Committee confirmed Bachman died from knife wounds and that Barbara Bachman suffered life-threatening injuries. She and their Chinese tour guide, who was also injured in the attack, were being treated in a Beijing hospital.

Elisabeth Bachman was with them at the time of the attack, but uninjured. Her father was chief executive officer for Bachman's, Inc., a home-and-garden centre based in Minneapolis.
The assailant, Tang Yongming, 47, leapt to his death from a 130-foot high balcony on the Drum Tower, just five miles from the main Olympics site.

Relatives said Barbara Bachman had undergone surgery and was in intensive care at a Beijing hospital.

The midday attack sent shock waves through the games precinct after the Olympics' spectacular opening ceremony had set an ebullient tone. President Bush, in the Chinese capital for the games, expressed sadness while American athletes and Olympics officials reacted with disbelief.