Beijing: Authorities had said that another 130 people were wounded in “premeditated, violent terrorist attack”. Xinhua said that four suspects were shot dead, one arrested and other are being sought.
City officials said evidence implicated militants from the western region of Xinjiang, but this was not verified.
President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang have sent condolences to the victims and their families.
President Xi urged “all-out efforts” to investigate the attack.
Xinhua quoted the president as saying, “Severely punish in accordance with the law the violent terrorists and resolutely crack down on those who have been swollen with arrogance.”
Witnesses said that the men, who were mostly dressed in black, attacked people at random.
A survivor named Yang Haifei, who was wounded in the back and chest, told Xinhua he had been buying a train ticket when the attackers rushed into the station.
He said, “I saw a person come straight at me with a long knife and I ran away with everyone.” He added that those too slow to flee were cut down.
Some who escaped were desperately looking for missing loved ones.
Social media users in China posted pictures of the attack on the internet, but correspondents say they are being taken down.
Kunming officials, quoted by Xinhua, later said that evidence at the scene showed it was “a terrorist attack carried out by Xinjiang separatist forces”.
Xinjiang is home to the Muslim Uighur minority group which has a long history of discord with Chinese authorities.
Bureau Report
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