Authorities in the southern Chinese city of Zhuhai removed wreaths, candles and bottles of Chinese alcohol, offerings laid at the scene of the deadliest mass killing in the country in a decade.

President Xi Jinping on Tuesday described the attack as “extremely vicious” and urged local governments to “strengthen the prevention and control of risks and promptly resolve conflicts and disputes”.

The Zhuhai attack in which a driver in southern China ploughed his car into a crowd of people and killed 35 people, severely injuring dozens more, has put the spotlight on a recent spate of similar attacks in China.