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Kunming station survivors speak of panic-stricken escape from attackers Kunming station survivors speak of panic-stricken escape from attackers
(35 minutes later)
Wang Ji had been waiting for an hour in Kunming's cool night air. It was Saturday, and the ticket office at the south-western Chinese city's main train station was bustling. Accompanied by an old schoolfriend, a man surnamed Cao, she had just arrived by train from their hometown 80 miles to the east. They planned to depart that night for Lijiang, a tourism hotspot where Wang attends university. Cao wanted to tag along. Wang Ji had been waiting for an hour in Kunming's cool night air. It was Saturday, and the ticket office at the south-western Chinese city's main railway station was bustling. Accompanied by an old schoolfriend, a man surnamed Cao, she had just arrived by train from their hometown 80 miles to the east. They planned to depart that night for Lijiang, a tourism hotspot where Wang attends university. Cao wanted to tag along.
At 9:20pm, the friends collected their tickets and turned to leave, when Cao saw a masked man brandishing a foot-long knife. "He came in and immediately hacked a man in the neck," said Cao. "As soon as that person collapsed, he moved on and stabbed somebody else."At 9:20pm, the friends collected their tickets and turned to leave, when Cao saw a masked man brandishing a foot-long knife. "He came in and immediately hacked a man in the neck," said Cao. "As soon as that person collapsed, he moved on and stabbed somebody else."
People began to scream. The ticket office only had one exit, which people scrambled to get out of. The pair ran for their lives.People began to scream. The ticket office only had one exit, which people scrambled to get out of. The pair ran for their lives.
China is in shock after about 10 assailants armed with knives killed at least 29 people and wounding 143 others at the railway station in Kunming. The state news agency Xinhua reported that police shot dead four of the attackers and apprehended another, a woman. Xinhua said the incident was an "organised, premeditated, violent terrorist attack" and that the suspects were Uighur, an ethnic group native to the north-western region Xinjiang.China is in shock after about 10 assailants armed with knives killed at least 29 people and wounding 143 others at the railway station in Kunming. The state news agency Xinhua reported that police shot dead four of the attackers and apprehended another, a woman. Xinhua said the incident was an "organised, premeditated, violent terrorist attack" and that the suspects were Uighur, an ethnic group native to the north-western region Xinjiang.
But the attackers' identity and motivations remain unclear. Ethnic relations are a politically loaded topic in China, and authorities have maintained a tight grip on the narrative of the attack. Chinese journalists dispatched to Kunming told the Guardian that they have been forbidden from digging deeper. But the attackers' identity and motivations remain unclear. Ethnic relations are a politically loaded topic in China, and authorities have maintained a tight grip on the narrative of the attack. Chinese journalists dispatched to Kunming told the Guardian that they had been forbidden from digging deeper.
"I don't remember what [the man] looked like, because by that time everybody was pretty panicked," said Cao, speaking in the hospital room where Wang was recovering from her wounds. He nervously wrung his hands as he described the chaotic scenes at the station. Wang, her head shaved and wrapped in gauze, nodded slowly as her friend spoke."I don't remember what [the man] looked like, because by that time everybody was pretty panicked," said Cao, speaking in the hospital room where Wang was recovering from her wounds. He nervously wrung his hands as he described the chaotic scenes at the station. Wang, her head shaved and wrapped in gauze, nodded slowly as her friend spoke.
Wang and Cao escaped the ticket office quickly, but not quickly enough. "While we were running away, the man clipped her on the head with his knife," Cao said. "The station square was already empty; so we ran north, through one intersection, and then another." Both then noticed that Wang was bleeding profusely and decided she needed immediate medical help. Wang and Cao escaped the ticket office quickly, but not quickly enough. "While we were running away, the man clipped her on the head with his knife," Cao said. "The station square was already empty so we ran north, through one intersection, and then another." Both then noticed that Wang was bleeding profusely and decided she needed immediate medical help.
"We got into a passing cab and went directly to the Yunnan province No 3 people's hospital, because it was the closest to the station," Cao said. "But it was overflowing with patients, and there weren't enough doctors." He and Wang then hailed another cab and arrived at the Kunming No 1 people's hospital after midnight."We got into a passing cab and went directly to the Yunnan province No 3 people's hospital, because it was the closest to the station," Cao said. "But it was overflowing with patients, and there weren't enough doctors." He and Wang then hailed another cab and arrived at the Kunming No 1 people's hospital after midnight.
On Monday afternoon, a narrow corridor on the ninth floor of the hospital was lined with patients. Most were surrounded by grave-looking family members, sitting on plastic chairs among fruit baskets and floral bouquets.On Monday afternoon, a narrow corridor on the ninth floor of the hospital was lined with patients. Most were surrounded by grave-looking family members, sitting on plastic chairs among fruit baskets and floral bouquets.
Cao looked at Wang and frowned. "She needs her rest," he said, and refused to speak further.Cao looked at Wang and frowned. "She needs her rest," he said, and refused to speak further.