Beijing orders investigations into local disputes after spate of deadly attacks

Mass stabbings and car rammings have prompted soul-searching about the state of society

Beijing is ramping up scrutiny of common" disputes such as those involving marriages and property, the justice ministry said, as the public reels from a recent string of deadly attacks.

China has witnessed a spate of violent incidents in recent months - from mass stabbings to car rammings - a rare development for a country with a proud reputation for public security.