Woman beaten to death ‘for refusing to give her number to cult’

The murder of a woman at a fast food restaurant in China has sparked a national outcry after it was revealed she was beaten to death for allegedly refusing to give her telephone number to members of a banned religious group.

The woman, aged 37, was attacked by a group of people who were described as members of the Church of Almighty God religious movement, state media reported. The group preached a global apocalypse would take place in 2012 and has been banned by Chinese authorities.

The attack occurred last Wednesday at a McDonald’s restaurant in northeastern Shandong province and was captured on surveillance video, the official Xinhua News Agency said in a commentary. Video footage of the attack was shown on China Central Television on Saturday.

Six alleged group members, including four from one family, have been arrested, state media reported.

“The audacity of the cult members to terrorise their victim at a McDonald’s, a chain frequented by average Chinese, further racked people’s nerves,” Xinhua said.

Many on social media condemned onlookers who failed to stop the assault in coastal Zhaoyuan city about 160km north of Qingdao.

“If I stay quiet today, who will help me cry for help when I suffer from misfortunes in the future?” asked one Weibo user.