SYDNEY - Papua New Guinea police have clarified the progress of a probe into the killings of four Chinese in capital of Port Moresby, according to local newspaper The National.

National Capital District and Central divisional commander Jim Andrews said Friday that police have not arrested anyone but detained 12 people for questioning in connection with the killings happened on Monday.

Among the 12 are eight employees of the bakery where the four bodies were found.

An initial investigation report showed eight to 10 men, armed with guns and bush knives, had entered the back door of the store and locked all the local employees in a room downstairs.

The report said the four Chinese managed to escape after confrontation with the armed group.

Andrews also appealed to the clinics and hospitals around the city to report to police information on searching for a person with severe skin burns.

The above information was confirmed Thursday by the Chinese Embassy in Papua New Guinea.

Four Chinese were stabbed to death by masked criminal in a bakery on Monday night.

Papua New Guinea's Prime Minister Peter O'Neill Wednesday condemned the killing in a statement, calling the attack "brutal and cowardly."