Knife attack claims 33 lives in Kunming

KUNMING, Mar 2 (AP): More than 10 assailants slashed scores of people with knives at a train station in southern China, drawing police fire, in what authorities called a terrorist assault by ethnic separatists based in the far west, state media said Sunday.  Thirty-three people were killed and 130 wounded.

Police fatally shot four of the assailants , arrested one and were searching for the others following the attack late Saturday at the Kunming train station in Yunnan province, the official Xinhua News Agency said. Witnesses described attackers dressed in black storming the train station and attacking people indiscriminately.

The attackers' identities were not yet confirmed, but evidence at the scene of the attack showed that it was "a terrorist attack carried out by Xinjiang separatist forces," Xinhua quoted the municipal government as saying. Authorities considered it to be "an organized, premeditated violent terrorist attack."

The far western region of Xinjiang is home to a simmering rebellion against Chinese rule by separatists among parts of the Muslim Uighur population.

An FE report adds: No injury or death of Bangladeshi national has been reported in the Sunday's terrorist attack at Kunming in China, an official statement said Sunday.

"No Bangladesh national has been reported to be injured in the terrorist attack at Kunming Railway Station in China on Sunday morning," said the statement issued by the ministry of foreign affairs (MoFA).

Consul General of Bangladesh Consulate General in Kunming Ms Shahnaz Gaji said that 33 people were killed and about 140 others injured after a group of unidentified armed men (and reportedly two women) stormed a railway station of Yunnan's provincial capital Kunming.   

The official of the MoFA said the Consulate General of Bangladesh in Kunming contacted the Foreign Affairs Office of China in Kunming and expressed heartfelt condolences for this heinous attack.

"The Foreign Affairs Office of Yunnan already tightened security for the 7 foreign Consulates General in Kunming including Bangladesh," the statement said.

All nationals of Bangladesh residing in Yunnan have been advised by the Foreign Affairs Office to stay at their of residence until further notice.

Bangladesh Consulate General also advised Bangladeshi businessmen, visitors and students to remain at home, dormitory and hotel and keep in continuous close touch with the mission.