New | Beijing police threaten action against microbloggers over Kunming attack comments

Beijing police issued harsh warnings this week to some of China’s most outspoken microbloggers after they posted about the social and political reasons behind the Kunming railway station attack.

The internet security group of the Beijing police department accused influential microbloggers, including writer Li Chengpeng and journalist Luo Changping, of “ignoring facts” and “mistaking the black for the white”.

It warned that "public figures” should “be responsible for their words” and threatened action "when laws are breached", but did not elaborate.

The message sparked fears of another internet crackdown, following the one launched by central government late last year, in which it arrested liberal commentators and microbloggers, shut down websites and erased what it deemed "harmful information".

Beijing police did not directly name the bloggers but posted screegrabs on Thursday of particular Weibo messages the authorities claimed had been flagged by readers.

One of the messages was by soccer commentator turned writer Li Chengpeng. “This is shocking and strange ... these people came out of nowhere and attacked civilians. What is their motive?" he said.