Beijing, Jan 14 (IANS): A higher court in China's Henan province Tuesday confirmed death sentence for a man who killed three and injured 16 others in a wanton knife attack in a moving bus.

On Aug 18, Zhou Jiangbo attacked three neighbours with a shovel following a dispute and then fled the spot. The next day, wrongly believing two of his seriously injured neighbours had died, Zhou bought two knives and a steel bar, and planned a killing spree at public places in Anyang county, Xinhua reported.

Zhou boarded a public bus in Baibi township of the Anyang county. He tried to snatch the steering wheel, when the bus was running, which resulted in collision of the bus with a truck.

He then stabbed the bus driver, ticket-seller and passengers, leaving three people dead and four seriously injured, while twelve others sustained lesser injuries.

A 10-month-old baby girl and two boys aged 10 and 18 were killed in the bus crash. Zhou was caught by police Aug 20.

Anyang Intermediate People's Court sentenced Zhou to death Dec 10, but he did not lodge an appeal.

The death penalty must be submitted to the Supreme People's Court for further approval.