Ouch! Are things getting pretty hot down there?

I've just read an early report about an alleged aggression of a Westerner by a Chinese mob, which happened in Zhuzhou, Henan no later than yesterday.

An American citizen is said to have been assaulted by the local Carrefour-boycotting mob. Although reports are contradictory, especially when it comes to the physical prejudice he received. But as far as we know, the man may have been attacked because he was thought to be French (glup). Well actually we French people in China use to joke often with sellers who may often believe us to be American tourists, but I guess we may very well stop playing with that kind of stuff and let them believe we're everything, but French from now on...

Do we have to believe this is a sad taste of not-that-happy things to come? I'd say I personally do not believe so, nor wish it to be so. But still, we can't let out of the picture that people taking part to such disturbing events are always making us somewhat worried, as we have hardly any clear idea of their motives and their goals... What kind of people exactly are those who sit in front of Carrefours? What the hell do they expect to achieve, but more importantly, what do they actually want?

More details about the event can be read here, on the shanghaiist website
link to the report
(this is still an early situation report - please stay cautious and wait for some additionnal infos before jumping on conclusions...)

Are you Zhuzhou? Did you hear about the event? Please do not hesitate to give your testimony, by posting a comment or discussing the matter on the forum.
I suppose the whole Westerner community in China will be happy to hear more about these stories, especially if this can re-assure us.

PS: Some news coverage of the current atmosphere. Again, consider everything you're being told by the media with the usual caution. I mean, we're partly in the sh*t today because of their asserted "professionalism", actually...
Although the man interviewed here is Jean-Philippe Béja, a renowned French specialist on Chinese matters. I think his analysis is worth listening for those who want a clear idea of what is going on, politically speaking.

(source: the Shanghaiist)