A violent conflict among four Chinese nationals at a bakery in Sihanoukville left one dead and three seriously injured with knife wounds on Wednesday.

The incident occurred in the city’s Village 1, Commune II, and was first reported by passersby who noticed loud noises coming from the shop.

Preah Sihanouk provincial deputy police chief in charge of serious crimes Kol Phally said the deceased was the 32-year-old bakery owner.

His 30-year-old girlfriend was seriously injured in the knife brawl and was sent to a hospital in Phnom Penh for treatment.

The remaining two victims were pastry workers at the bakery – a 20-year-old man who was injured and stayed at the scene, and a 33-year-old man who was seriously injured. One of the workers was transported to a Phnom Penh hospital for treatment.

According to a provincial police officer who declined to give his name, witnesses claim they heard loud talking coming from the bakery at the time of the incident.

When they investigated, the officer said, they saw four people fighting in the shop. Some were holding knives two or three fingers long, and they lunged at each other.

The officer said witnesses soon realised that one of the men was lying on the floor, bleeding from stab wounds, and was likely seriously injured.

He said provincial police officers eventually arrived at the scene after receiving reports from witnesses.

After the incident, the officer said, police examined the deceased and found two stab wounds in the stomach. The other three injured victims had been stabbed in the body and the stomach, he said.

Provincial police chief Chuon Narin confirmed on Thursday that one man was found dead and three others seriously injured.

“This was caused by two Chinese men in the same group. The other man and woman are being treated in Phnom Penh,” he said.

Narin said there are no other suspects, and once the three injured victims recover, further action would be taken.