A man and a woman have been stabbed to death while buying tickets at a railway station in Beijing.

The incident happened at around 4 pm Thursday at Beijing Railway Station as the two queued to purchase tickets at counter number two, according to the Beijing Times.

The crime scene is cordoned off as police search for clues, Sept 6, 2012. [Photo/Beijing Times]

Police arrested a man who was seen fleeing the scene shortly after the incident,the paper said.

An eyewitness surnamed Zhao told the Beijing Times: "I was in front of them, but people did not pay attention as they did not hear the sound. I heard the voices of the rear passengers and looked back to see two people fall to the ground."

The victims, who were stabbed in the neck and chest, are believed to be a 21-year-old man and a young woman.

The station ticket office remained closed Friday morning as police continued to search for clues.