ZHUHAI, China, Nov 12 (Reuters) - A driver rammed his car into a crowd at a sports centre in southern China, killing 35 people and severely injuring 43 in one of the deadliest attacks in contemporary Chinese history.

Amid shock at the high death toll, officials have tried to soothe public anger with a flurry of promises to serve justice and do better to prevent future attacks.

The attacker, a 62-year-old man surnamed Fan, who drove a vehicle into the crowd outside a stadium, was stopped and taken to hospital after trying to kill himself.