Gao, 25, was arrested on the scene and remains in police custody

Ms Gu's funeral took place in the Chinese capital on Monday

Relatives say killer had asked whether her French husband was American

Gu Wengqin, 28, died in hospital after being stabbed from behind

A Chinese man who stabbed a woman to death in Beijing with a metre-long sword last week reportedly said he 'hated Americans' before launching the violent rampage.

The man, named only as Gao, stabbed Chinese national Gu Wenqing, 28, and her French husband last Thursday in the popular shopping and nightlife area Sanlitun.

According to a friend of the victim's husband, the killer had asked whether or not the Frenchman was American, reported People's Daily Online.

The victim's husband, who has been named as Mariaud Romain in Chinese media, was also injured in the brutal attack.

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Man, identified only as Gao, reportedly said he 'hated Americans' before launching attack in Beijing last week

His victim, who has been named as Gu Wengqin, died in hospital after being stabbed from behind

The funeral of Ms Gu, who is originally from Shandong province, took place yesterday in Beijing and was attended by family and friends.

The victim, 28, is reported to be a tattoo artist. She and her husband got married just ten days prior to the attack.

Sister Gu Wendi confirmed that the victim did not know the suspect and claimed he had been seen walking around the area with a sword during the three days prior to the stabbing.

She told the Global Times: 'The murderer said he hated Americans and asked whether my brother-in-law was an American.

'My brother-in-law replied that he is French and asked him not to hurt them. But the man stabbed them in the back when they walked past him.'

The victim's husband, who is reported to be a former employee of Beijing's French Embassy, is still receiving treatment in hospital.

Following the incident, photographs of him tending to his wife lying in the street spread quickly on Chinese social media.

French national Mariaud Romain, who was pictured tending to his wife, was also injured during the rampage

Rumours began to circulate that Gao was the victim's ex lover, although this has been refuted by Ms Gu's family.

Gao, a 25-year-old from Jilin province, northeast China, appeared to pose with his sword in the middle of the street following the brutal attack.