A woman has been charged with attempted murder after repeatedly stabbing a student in the head on a bus in an alleged racist attack.
Billie Davis, 56, was taken into custody following the attack in Bloomington, IndianaLast week, shocked passengers reported to police that they saw her begin attacking the 18-year-old girl.
It wasn’t until the teenager was taken to hospital that it was discovered she had suffered a stab wound to the head.
The attack appeared to be unprovoked, as video from inside the bus showed no previous interaction between Davis and the Asian-American victim, who was studying at Indiana University.
Surveillance video showed her stabbing the woman seven times as she stood waiting for the exit door to open, local media reported.
In a statement, the university’s vice chancellor said the attack was a reminder that “anti-Asian hatred is real.”
“No one should face harassment or violence because of their background, race or heritage,” he added.
Earlier, ABC News affiliate WRTV reported, citing court records, that Davis told police she stabbed the student with a jackknife because “it would be one less person to blow up our country.”
Police found Davis with the help of a passenger who followed her after she got out of the car.
Bloomington Mayor John Hamilton expressed solidarity with the Asian American community, which has been Violence rises across U.S. in wake of coronavirus pandemic.
Mr Hamilton said the town of 80,000 regretted “any form of racism and discrimination” and said it would “handle this incident of violence accordingly”.
He added: “We stand with the Asian American community and all those who are threatened by this incident.”
Davis, who is being held at the Monroe County Jail, was also charged with aggravated battery.
Hate crimes against Asians Britain also soared at the height of the pandemicfollowing the first outbreak of the virus in China in late 2019 and early 2020.