A group of knife-wielding men have attacked a train station in south-western China causing injuries, according to the country's official news agency, with local media reporting that at least one person was killed.

Xinhua New Agency did not provide more details about the attack at the Kunming Railway Station in Yunnan province, and the attackers were not identified. Kunming city police said they did not have immediate information to release.

Citing witnesses, a local TV station reported that there was at least one death and several injuries in the attack.

The station, K6, said that several of the attackers were shot by police and that victims were being transported to local hospitals.

The state-run Yunnan News said that the men were wearing uniforms when they stormed the railway station and that gunshots were heard after police arrived.

Photos circulating online showed scattered luggage and bodies lying on the floor in blood.

The motive behind the attack was not immediately clear, but China has seen a number of mass stabbings and other attacks carried out by people bearing grudges against society.

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