Attacker in viral fighting video on Beijing street detained

A man who allegedly applied professional fighting techniques to hit another man on a street in Beijing on May 18 has been detained by local police for assault, Beijing Youth Daily reported.

As video shot by a witness showed, the man jumped off his motorcycle and gave several harsh blows to a man who was riding a bicycle after they had a dispute northwest of the city's Shuangjing Bridge around 6pm. The man’s female partner tried to stop him several times.

The bashed cyclist, surnamed Peng, suffered minor injuries according to preliminary medical checks.

Local police identified the attacker with license information provided by witnesses. However, Ma hid himself at the home of one of his friends in the city’s Fangshan District after the video went viral instead of surrendering to police.

Police arrested Ma at his friend’s home before finding sandbags and boxing gloves there.

The attacker confessed to police that he hadn’t learnt any fighting skills, despite online speculation. But Ma did say he had watched fighting programs before, and that he regretted his actions as soon as he left the scene.

Ma’s father was also detained for the offence of harboring a criminal. Ma will be responsible for civil compensation and fined for traffic violations as well.