A teenager is alleged to have killed nine people and left four others injured in a knife attack triggered by a quarrel with his girlfriend in northeast China's Liaoning Province, local authorities said yesterday.

Li, 17, a native of Fushun City, is said to have taken a bus after the quarrel and arrived at 9pm on Wednesday in Yongling township in Fushun where a stabbing spree took place, Fushun City's publicity department said in a statement.

Li allegedly stabbed to death two relatives of his girlfriend. Fleeing the scene, the teenager then killed another six people and injured five others, police said. One of the injured later died.

Li is in police custody.