Terrorists kill 29, injure 143 in Kunming attack, Arrested suspect considered “key evidence,” and more updates from Weibo

Late last night (China time), a team of eight* (updated) knife-wielding terrorists attacked the Kunming Train Station, in the capital of Yunnan, killing 29 and injuring 130 (143, as of March 3). Four of the attackers were shot and killed at the scene and another was injured and arrested. Five were reportedly on the loose at the time of the original posting, although as of March 4, it has been reported that there were eight attackers and all have been arrested or killed. As of 3:30 pm, three are reportedly arrested. The attack was reportedly carried out by Xinjiang separatists.

ChinaHush is following the story on Weibo and updating as the story develops.

UPDATES (as of 3 pm on Mar. 4): Initial reports stated that there were about 10 attackers or “more than 10” (WaPo). As of March 3, reports indicate that there were eight attackers (BBC). The Ministry of Public Security has identified Abdurehim Kurban as the “mastermind” of the attack (SCMP/Xinhua). Also as noted by the SCMP, the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference observed a moment of silence for the victims, and there is talk of passing comprehensive anti-terrorism legislative. Weibo users have started a campaign on Weibo to push back against stereotyping of Xinjiang people. The hashtag “I am a Xinjiang Person” has become a hot top. Read the top tweets of the anti-discrimination hashtag.

CCTV is reporting that the arrested suspect is a woman and is “key” to the investigation:

Lead Story News: 【Arrested Female Suspect Becomes Kunming Terrorist Attack Key Evidence】As reported by CCTV, the police said that police at Kunming Railway Station shot and killed 4 thugs on the spot and arrested 1. Among the five suspects, 3 men and 2 women. 1 female suspect was injured and was successfully captured. She is at the hospital receiving urgent care. This female suspect has become a key piece of evidence for the investigation.
头条新闻：【被抓女疑犯成昆明暴恐案侦破关键证据】根据央视报道，警方介绍称，民警在昆明火车站当场击毙4名暴徒，抓获1人。5名犯罪嫌疑人是3男2女，1名女性犯罪嫌疑人被打伤并成功抓获，已送至医院紧急救治。这名女性犯罪嫌疑人成为侦破案件的关键证据。http://t.cn/8Fr9keD
– March 2, 10:18 am

Since then, more have been arrested. Here is a photo of one of the suspects in custody. The arrest reportedly occurred near Camellia Park, about 2 kilometers north of Kunming Railway Station along the main road that leads to the station, according to QQ News.

A photo of forces in Kunming:

A story of one of the victims, an “honest farmer” whose husband was murdered:

Wuxi Taihu Lake Pearl Website: 【Kunming Violent Terrorist Attack: Innocents Murdered in Cold Blood】A group of people burst in and hacked away at anyone they saw. Victim Xiong Wenguang, born in 1955, he had bought tickets to go with his wife Chen Guizhen on the 2nd to Zhejiang to work. The wife, who survived, rummaged through the backpack to find the tickets. The bag is stained with blood. Money is out. The purse is out. Facial tissues are out. She says, “We are just honest farmers. Why are some people so cruel?” via People’s Daily

无锡太湖明珠网新浪机构认证：【昆明暴力恐怖案直击：无辜人惨遭毒手】一群人冲进来，见人就砍。死者熊文光，1955年出生。他跟妻子陈桂珍本来买好2日的票，去浙江打工。幸免于难的妻子在背包里翻找丈夫的车票，包里沾满鲜血，钞票上、皮包上、纸巾上。“我们都是老老实实的农民，这些人为什么要这样心狠？” via 人民日报

– March 2, 11:10 am

Anchor Cheng Gang: Yunnan Broadcast Satellite TV Channel, city channel, public channel is now live, I get ready to go on the air
主播程纲: 云南广播电视台卫视频道，都市频道，公共频道现已开始直播，本人备播中

– March 2, 8:54 am

Kunming people are helping the victims:

Guo Yifan, Chief Technology Officer of an entertainment company: 57-year-old lady, can’t donate blood because of age limit. She saw that many people were donating blood, and she quickly decided to volunteer counselor. Kunming has such righteous people, We are not afraid of you thugs!

郭一梵 ：57岁的阿姨，由于年龄限制不能献血，她看前来献血的人很多都是第一回，现在她零时做起了，现场义务咨询员！昆明有这么正义市民，暴徒我们不怕你！
– March 2, 11:00 am

“Big Bear”, a visiting professor at Yunnan University and host of the Bear Talk Podcast: Lovely Kunming people are already mobilizing into action. The ordinarily empty blood donation station is full of people. Men and women, old and young. Yunnan people may have some slight shortcomings, but on the big questions before us, we are not lagging. I am waiting in line

i大狗熊新：可爱的昆明人已经行动起来了，平时人都没有的献血站爆满，男女老幼都有，云南人可能有些小毛病，大是大非前我们绝不落后。我排队等待中
– March 2, 2:04 pm

Beijing News: #Praying For Kunming# 【Kunming People Enthusiastically Giving Blood on the Street, Waiting Line Stretches Over 10 Meters】 “From 10 am this morning until now, they already had to send out for over 100 copies of the blood donation sign up forms. The blood donation truck has always been full.” After 3 pm, the doctor responsible for collecting blood at a blood donation point on Linyu Road said. Inside the truck, it is packed with citizens enthusiastic to donate blood, while a line of citizens waiting to fill out the form stretches for 20 meters. (Report Wang Ruifeng)http://t.cn/8FdPTRV

新京报：#祈福昆明#【昆明街头市民踊跃献血 等候队伍长达十多米】“从早晨10点到现在，采血登记表发已经发出去一百多份，献血车一直是满的。”下午3点多，霖雨路的一处献血点，负责采血的医生说。采血车里，已挤满了踊跃献血的市民，而等待填表的市民排出长达近20米的队伍。(记者王瑞锋)http://t.cn/8FdPTRV
– March 2, 6:27 pm

A photo circulating on Weibo isn’t actually a photo of the attacker’s shirt. The photo shows a black tee shirt with an Islamic star and crescent on it and a police officer in the background. The message says to watch out for people wearing the shirt. The photo has been sourced to before this particular attack. One forum post from July 2, 2013 features the shirt.

Here is what one of the messages that has been forwarded over 1,000 times says:

Love in Shantou: No matter where you are, if you see someone wearing clothes with this depiction on it, quickly get out and tell the police! Added: If it has this kind of depiction, it doesn’t matter what color the clothes are. Just as long as it has this drawing of a star and moon, hide far away (insurgent clothing). Everyone who sees this message, immediately share it and tell your family members who don’t have Weibo. Safety first! A moment of silence for our Kunming compatriots!

爱上汕头: 不管你在哪个城市哪个地方，路上遇见穿附图这样衣服的，请尽快走开或报警！ 补充：衣服样式如图，无论是什么颜色。只要是如图这样画着星星月亮，都躲远（暴动分子的衣服） 所有可以看到这条信息的朋友马上相互转告，并告诉自己家里没有微博的亲人，安全第一！为受害的昆明同胞默哀！
– March 2, 6:56 pm

More photos of the scene:

Photos of the front pages of some of newspapers:

This morning, March 2, the train station is back to normal, bustling with passengers, as Xinhua reported:

Weibo user 我一微笑_你就羞了 (Once I Smile, You Become Shy) shared this artwork:

The image looks similar to the word Kunming (昆明), but the character 匕 in red means “dagger”.

William Yuen: Because of them, everyone will be looking at Xinjiang people through tinted glasses. One piece of rat shit ruined the whole vat of porridge… …I remember last week in Shanghai, my friends and I ran into a Xinjiang pickpocket. Until today I have had a lingering fear. @徒步旅行白勺猫 A moment of silence for Kunming, too innocent… …I hope that there are more good Xinjiang people and people from across the country standing together at the front… …God bless.

william_杨杨不是坏人：就是因为他们，所以大家才对新疆人持有色眼镜，一颗老鼠屎毁了一大缸粥……记得上周在上海和朋友还遇到新疆的小偷扒手，至今心有余悸@徒步旅行白勺猫 默哀昆明，太无辜了……希望有更多好的新疆人和全国人民站在统一战线……天佑我朝
– March 2, 12:31 pm

Some responses from celebrities:

Chen Kun, actor, the #1 Weibo user: A moment of silence for the dead! [candles][crying face]

陈坤: 为死者默哀！[蜡烛][蜡烛][蜡烛][泪] – March 2, 9:28 am

Wang Leehom, Chinese-American singer: Perhaps, as the African wild coyote says, violence is the only way to solve the problem. But we are human. We have knowledge, we have a conscience, and we have the ability to distinguish between right and wrong. When I saw the news I was very disappointed and my heart was aching. May the dead rest in peace and the injured fully recover. Hope those murderers who committed these atrocities be brought to justice.

王力宏: 或許對非洲的野生土狼來說 暴力是唯一解決問題的方法。 但我們是人類。 我們有智慧，有良心，也分辨得了什麼是對和錯。 我看到了新聞真的好失望，也很心痛。 願死者安息，傷者都能夠痊癒。 願犯下如此可怕暴行的兇手能夠被繩之以法。
– March 2, 2:55 am

Yan Chen, actress: Seriously punish those terrorists! May the dead rest in peace! [candle]

姚晨: 严惩暴徒！逝者安息！[蜡烛] – March 2, 1:43 pm

Yuan Hong, actor: Kunming friends, are you okay? The terrorists are still on the run, reminding everyone to be on alert. I hope the injured get well soon and the dead rest in peace[candles]. As for us, try to stay calm and rational. At this time, any negative hostility from us, it is their goal, in creating this tragedy. The scars of hatred cut by the devil only heal with love.

袁弘: 昆明的朋友们，你们还好吗？尚有暴徒在逃，提醒大家警惕。愿伤者平安逝者安息[蜡烛][蜡烛][蜡烛]至于我们，尽量理智冷静，此时我们的任何负面敌对情绪，都是他们，制造惨案者想要达到的目的。恶魔挥刀砍出仇恨的伤疤，唯有用爱来抚平。
– March 2, 10:20 am

He Jiong, Hunnan Satellite TV Host: Kunming, wishing for peace.

何炅: 昆明，祝福平安。
– March 1, 11:32 pm

Han Geng, singer and actor: May the dead rest in peace and the injured get well[heart]! Condemning terrorist violence! [angry] RT// @赵薇: Popular indignation! RT// @kent_zhao: [angry]Learn from Comrade Putin!

韩庚: 愿逝者安息，伤者平安[心]！谴责恐怖暴力！[怒] //@赵薇:人神共愤！ //@kent_zhao:[怒]要学习普京同志!
– March 2, 11:27 am

Gao Yuanyuan, actress: Praying for Kunming. May the dead rest in peace, wish the injured have a quick recovery. [praying]

高圆圆: 祈福昆明，愿逝者安息，伤者早日康复
– March 2, 10:35 am

Guo Jingming, youth author (Tiny Times): Abhor violence! Strongly punish the murderers! May the dead rest in peace. [candles]

郭敬明: 痛恨暴力！严惩凶手！愿逝者安息。[蜡烛][蜡烛][蜡烛] – March 2, 3:00 am