The suspect, a 62-year-old man surnamed Fan, remains in a stable condition in hospital after trying to cut his own throat in Monday’s attack in Zhuhai, the city’s government told the Post.

Police have now arrested Fan, triggering a formal judicial process, state news agency Xinhua reported.

It took five days between Fan’s detention and the official approval of his arrest – a relatively quick pace in Chinese criminal proceedings.

He is accused of killing 35 people and injuring 43 others after an SUV was driven into a crowd of people exercising at a local sports stadium.

Police previously said he may have been motivated by his anger over a recent divorce settlement.