This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-22276042
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| China's Xinjiang hit by deadly clashes | China's Xinjiang hit by deadly clashes |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Clashes in China's restive Xinjiang region have left 21 people dead, including 15 police officers and officials, authorities say. | Clashes in China's restive Xinjiang region have left 21 people dead, including 15 police officers and officials, authorities say. |
| The violence occurred on Tuesday afternoon in Bachu county, Kashgar prefecture. | The violence occurred on Tuesday afternoon in Bachu county, Kashgar prefecture. |
| The foreign ministry said it had been a planned attack by a "violent terrorist group", but ethnic groups questioned this. | The foreign ministry said it had been a planned attack by a "violent terrorist group", but ethnic groups questioned this. |
| There have been sporadic clashes in Xinjiang in recent years. | There have been sporadic clashes in Xinjiang in recent years. |
| The incidents come amid rumbling ethnic tensions between the Muslim Uighur and Han Chinese communities. In 2009 almost 200 people - mostly Han Chinese - were killed after deadly rioting erupted. | The incidents come amid rumbling ethnic tensions between the Muslim Uighur and Han Chinese communities. In 2009 almost 200 people - mostly Han Chinese - were killed after deadly rioting erupted. |
| It is very difficult to verify reports from Xinjiang, reports the BBC's Celia Hatton. | It is very difficult to verify reports from Xinjiang, reports the BBC's Celia Hatton. |
| Foreign journalists are allowed to travel to the region but frequently face intimidation and harassment when attempting to verify news of ethnic rioting or organised violence against government authorities. | Foreign journalists are allowed to travel to the region but frequently face intimidation and harassment when attempting to verify news of ethnic rioting or organised violence against government authorities. |
| 'Terrorism' | 'Terrorism' |
| Hou Hanmin, director of the Xinjiang government's propaganda department, said Tuesday's clashes began as officials described as community workers searched homes for weapons. | Hou Hanmin, director of the Xinjiang government's propaganda department, said Tuesday's clashes began as officials described as community workers searched homes for weapons. |
| She told the BBC's Chinese service that three of the workers were killed as they were investigating reports of suspicious individuals at the home of a local resident. | She told the BBC's Chinese service that three of the workers were killed as they were investigating reports of suspicious individuals at the home of a local resident. |
| Unarmed police then arrived to investigate the workers' earlier reports and were attacked, said Ms Hou. Three "thugs" died and nine police officers were cornered in a house which was then set on fire, she said, calling the incident a "planned terrorist attack" on innocent victims. | Unarmed police then arrived to investigate the workers' earlier reports and were attacked, said Ms Hou. Three "thugs" died and nine police officers were cornered in a house which was then set on fire, she said, calling the incident a "planned terrorist attack" on innocent victims. |
| There was no information on the identity of the assailants. Ten of the officials and police killed were ethnic Uighurs, the local authorities said. | There was no information on the identity of the assailants. Ten of the officials and police killed were ethnic Uighurs, the local authorities said. |
| Eight people were arrested. | Eight people were arrested. |
| Foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said initial police investigations showed it had been "a premeditated attack carried out by a violent terrorist group". | Foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said initial police investigations showed it had been "a premeditated attack carried out by a violent terrorist group". |
| She said the security situation in Xinjiang was "good in general, but a small cluster of terrorist forces are still doing their very best to upset and sabotage Xinjiang's stability and development". | She said the security situation in Xinjiang was "good in general, but a small cluster of terrorist forces are still doing their very best to upset and sabotage Xinjiang's stability and development". |
| "I believe their plan goes against the will of the people and is doomed to fail," she told a news conference. | "I believe their plan goes against the will of the people and is doomed to fail," she told a news conference. |
| But Dilxat Raxit, a spokesperson for the World Uighur Congress, an umbrella organisation of Uighur groups, told the BBC the incident was caused by the killing of a young Uighur by Chinese "armed personnel" as a result of a government clean-up campaign. | But Dilxat Raxit, a spokesperson for the World Uighur Congress, an umbrella organisation of Uighur groups, told the BBC the incident was caused by the killing of a young Uighur by Chinese "armed personnel" as a result of a government clean-up campaign. |
| Uighurs make up about 45% of the region's population, but say an influx of Han Chinese residents has marginalised their traditional culture. | Uighurs make up about 45% of the region's population, but say an influx of Han Chinese residents has marginalised their traditional culture. |
| Beijing authorities often blame violent incidents in Xinjiang on Uighur extremists seeking autonomy for the region. Uighur activists, meanwhile, accuse Beijing of over-exaggerating the threat to justify heavy-handed rule. | Beijing authorities often blame violent incidents in Xinjiang on Uighur extremists seeking autonomy for the region. Uighur activists, meanwhile, accuse Beijing of over-exaggerating the threat to justify heavy-handed rule. |
| In March, 20 people were jailed on terrorism and separatism charges in the region. Last August courts jailed another 20 people on similar charges in Xinjiang. |