Kunming in shock after deadly terror attack
Print Edition
China promised tough punishment for knife-wielding attackers who killed at least 29 people in an unprecedented train station rampage in Kunming by separatists from the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, as witnesses described a city in shock.
Victims spoke of attackers slashing indiscriminately with large knives and machetes as people queued to buy tickets at the main railway station in the southwestern city on Saturday night. The attack lasted about half an hour.
More than 130 people were wounded in the attack in the capital city of Yunnan Province, prompting shock and outrage nationwide. Buses and taxis were used to ferry people to hospital.
Police shot dead four of the assailants, captured one and are continuing to search for the other terrorists.
China Central Television said that at least two of the attackers were women — one was killed while the other was captured and later taken to hospital for treatment.
A shop worker told reporters some of the victims took refuge in her store.
“Many were crying and some looked like they had been cut. We were terrified. Everyone in Kunming is still in shock,” she said.
Police shot dead at least four attackers, arrested one and were hunting for more.
In a commentary, Xinhua news agency called the terrorist attack “China’s 9/11” and a “severe crime against humanity.”
China's security chief Meng Jianzhu, who rushed to Kunming to oversee operations, promised “all-out efforts” to “severely punish terrorists according to the law.”
He “urged forcible measures to crack down on violent terrorism activities.”
The Kunming city government said the attack was orchestrated by separatists from the northwest region of Xinjiang.
Attacks are almost unheard of in Yunnan, more than 1,600 kilometers from Xinjiang and a popular tourist destination.
The attack comes months after three terrorists of the same Xinjiang family crashed their car into crowds of tourists in Tian’anmen Square in Beijing, killing two people. The attackers then set the vehicle on fire, killing themselves, according to police.
Many Internet users expressed outrage yesterday.
“Targeting ordinary people in a terrorist attack is disgraceful,” was one comment on Sina Weibo.
Li Chengpeng, a social commentator who has more than 7 million followers on Weibo, said: “No matter who did this, for what purpose, and no matter which race, to target innocent people at a train station is an evil choice. Their hearts will be punished and they will go to hell.”
Xinhua said in its commentary that the attack had shrouded the whole nation in terror.
“Mothers, sons and daughters were slaughtered by strangers,” it said. “Nothing justifies such a carnage against innocent civilians. A nationwide outrage has been stirred.”
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