Case file
2014 Kunming attack
On the evening of 1 March 2014, at 21:12, a group of five individuals dressed in black and armed with knives and cleavers rushed into the waiting area of Kunming Railway Station in Kunming, Yunnan, China, and attacked passengers indiscriminately. The attackers moved through the station square, ticket areas, and baggage storage area, stabbing and slashing people at random. Hundreds of bystanders sheltered in nearby businesses, a post office, a restaurant, and restrooms during the attack. Railway and traffic police, armed only with batons, confronted the attackers and were injured while attempting to push them out of the station; the confrontation and pursuit lasted around twelve minutes before the attackers fled onto Zhanqian Road.
A SWAT team from the Guandu branch of the Kunming Municipal Public Security Bureau arrived within about ten minutes of the attack's start. Around 21:35, police surrounded the five attackers at an intersection; after tear gas failed to subdue them, a marksman shot five of the attackers in rapid succession after firing warning shots, killing four. A wounded female suspect was detained and taken to a hospital. Police announced on 3 March that three additional suspects had been arrested, bringing the number directly implicated at that point to eight, five of whom were the direct attackers.
The attack killed 31 people and injured 143, including seven police officers. Two security guards were killed while attempting to subdue the attackers. The wounded were transported by public bus and treated at 11 hospitals in Kunming. The Red Cross Society of China sent a team to assist with rescue efforts and counseling. Yunnan's Communist Party Secretary Qin Guangrong said victims would not bear medical costs and acknowledged inadequacies in resources, policing, and intelligence gathering.
Authorities named the five direct attackers as Abdurehim Kurban, Ahmat Abiti, Mangshar Shartar, Almira Tursun, and Patigul Tohti, with Kurban identified as leader and Tohti, who was pregnant, the sole survivor. Three others—Iskandar Ehet, Turgun Tohtunyaz, and Hasayn Muhammad—were arrested on 27 February 2014 in Shadian while attempting to cross the border illegally, and were accused of masterminding the attack. Chinese officials said the group of thirteen was founded in December 2013 with the goal of engaging in jihad abroad. Patigul Tohti and the three accused masterminds were tried and convicted of murder and organizing and leading a terrorist organization at the Kunming City Intermediate People's Court. Tohti received a life sentence, while Ehet, Tohtunyaz, and Muhammad were sentenced to death and executed on 24 March 2015. Five others were tried separately as part of the group.
The attack drew condemnation from the UN Secretary-General and Security Council, and prompted widespread domestic and international reaction, including debate over Western media's use of quotation marks around the word "terrorism." Chinese authorities said the attack was linked to Xinjiang separatists, citing an East Turkestan flag found at the scene.
Key facts
- Victims
- On file
- Date
- 2014
- Location
- Kunming Railway Station, Kunming, Yunnan, China
- Case status
- solved
Case timeline
2014-02-24
Group makes a failed attempt to cross the Chinese border, resulting in arrests of some members.
2014-02-26
Group makes a second failed attempt to cross the Chinese border.
2014-02-27
Iskandar Ehet, Turgun Tohtunyaz, and Hasayn Muhammad are arrested in Shadian, Honghe Prefecture, Yunnan, while attempting to illegally cross the border.
2014-03-01
Five attackers depart Shadian by rented car at 17:30.
2014-03-01
At 21:12, attackers rush into Kunming Railway Station and begin stabbing passengers indiscriminately.
2014-03-01
At 21:19, the three remaining active attackers escape the station area via the bus depot onto Zhanqian Road.
2014-03-01
At around 21:35, police surround the five attackers; a marksman shoots five of them, killing four, and one wounded female suspect is detained.
2014-03-02
Red Cross Society of China team arrives in Yunnan to assist rescue and counseling efforts; armed police patrol area around the station; locals lay flowers to mourn the dead.
2014-03-03
Ministry of Public Security announces arrest of three additional suspects and describes an eight-person group as directly responsible for the attack.
2014-03-04
Yunnan Communist Party Secretary Qin Guangrong states resources have been allocated to help victims and acknowledges inadequacies in policing and intelligence gathering.
2015-03-24
Iskandar Ehet, Turgun Tohtunyaz, and Hasayn Muhammad are executed after being sentenced to death for murder and organizing/leading a terrorist organization.
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People
Ali Yimin
CHARGEDTried in a separate proceeding as part of the broader group implicated in the attack.
Turgun Tohtunyaz
CONVICTEDAccused mastermind arrested 27 February 2014; convicted of murder and organizing/leading a terrorist organization; sentenced to death and executed 24 March 2015.
Iskandar Ehet
CONVICTEDAccused mastermind arrested 27 February 2014; convicted of murder and organizing/leading a terrorist organization; sentenced to death and executed 24 March 2015.
Peng Bin
LAW ENFORCEMENTRailway policeman who responded to the attack and was stabbed in the abdomen while intervening.
Xie Lin
LAW ENFORCEMENTCaptain of the Kunming Railway Police Station who responded to the attack and was stabbed in the head while intervening.
Yimin Mulla
CHARGEDTried in a separate proceeding as part of the broader group implicated in the attack.
Balati Abdusaimaiti
CHARGEDTried in a separate proceeding as part of the broader group implicated in the attack.
Hasayn Muhammad
CONVICTEDAccused mastermind arrested 27 February 2014; convicted of murder and organizing/leading a terrorist organization; sentenced to death and executed 24 March 2015.
Yusufu Yasen
CHARGEDTried in a separate proceeding as part of the broader group implicated in the attack.
Salam Mamut
CHARGEDTried in a separate proceeding as part of the broader group implicated in the attack.
Zhang Liyuan
LAW ENFORCEMENTDeputy station director who confronted an attacker and was injured, losing his index finger and part of his thumb, while helping protect passengers.
Patigul Tohti
CONVICTEDSole surviving direct attacker, pregnant at the time; convicted of murder and organizing/leading a terrorist organization; sentenced to life in prison.
Roles reflect public records and court outcomes at the time of writing — supporting citations are on file under Sources.
Places
Common questions
- What happened to the victim?
- On 1 March 2014, five knife-wielding attackers killed 31 people and wounded 143 at Kunming Railway Station in China. Four attackers were shot dead by police and one was captured; investigators linked the attack to a Xinjiang separatist group, with thirteen people ultimately implicated.
- Where did the crime happen?
- Kunming Railway Station, Kunming, Yunnan, China.
- Who was convicted?
- Turgun Tohtunyaz (Accused mastermind arrested 27 February 2014; convicted of murder and organizing/leading a terrorist organization; sentenced to death and executed 24 March 2015.), Iskandar Ehet (Accused mastermind arrested 27 February 2014; convicted of murder and organizing/leading a terrorist organization; sentenced to death and executed 24 March 2015.), Hasayn Muhammad (Accused mastermind arrested 27 February 2014; convicted of murder and organizing/leading a terrorist organization; sentenced to death and executed 24 March 2015.), and Patigul Tohti (Sole surviving direct attacker, pregnant at the time; convicted of murder and organizing/leading a terrorist organization; sentenced to life in prison.).
- What is the current status of the case?
- Status: solved.
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Sources
- 2014 Kunming attackwikipedia · Wikipedia · 2026-07-10
- Contemporaneous coverage — BBC Newsnews · BBC News · 2026-07-10
- Contemporaneous coverage — CNNnews · CNN · 2026-07-10