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Tiananmen crash: Xinjiang security tightened Tiananmen crash: Xinjiang security tightened
(35 minutes later)
Security appears to have been increased in China's Xinjiang region, a day after police said they had detained five suspects over the Tiananmen crash.Security appears to have been increased in China's Xinjiang region, a day after police said they had detained five suspects over the Tiananmen crash.
Security levels are raised and police are visiting "sensitive religious families", police told the BBC.
A car crashed into a crowd and burst into flames at Beijing's Tiananmen Square on Monday, killing all three in the car and two bystanders.A car crashed into a crowd and burst into flames at Beijing's Tiananmen Square on Monday, killing all three in the car and two bystanders.
The suspects all appear to be from the restive western region of Xinjiang, home to China's Muslim Uighur minority. The car occupants appear to have been Uighurs, from China's Xinjiang region.
However, Uighur activists have called for an independent investigation.
Some of Xinjiang's Muslim Uighur group complain of cultural and religious repression under Beijing's rule and there have been sporadic outbreaks of violence. China says it grants the Uighurs wide-ranging freedoms.Some of Xinjiang's Muslim Uighur group complain of cultural and religious repression under Beijing's rule and there have been sporadic outbreaks of violence. China says it grants the Uighurs wide-ranging freedoms.
'Step up vigilance' 'Much stricter'
Monday's crash, which happened around midday at the northern end of Tiananmen Square near an entrance to the Forbidden City, left 38 people injured.Monday's crash, which happened around midday at the northern end of Tiananmen Square near an entrance to the Forbidden City, left 38 people injured.
Police said that the jeep was driven by a man who was with his wife and mother. They had ignited petrol inside the car, they added.Police said that the jeep was driven by a man who was with his wife and mother. They had ignited petrol inside the car, they added.
The five suspects believed to be connected to the incident were arrested 10 hours after the crash, police said. The five suspects - all from Xinjiang - were arrested 10 hours after the crash and were thought to be connected to the incident, police said.
"This is the first time that violent terrorist forces from Xinjiang have caused a serious incident in Beijing," state-controlled newspaper Global Times said on Thursday.
"The inland people need to step up vigilance," it said, adding: "People from Xinjiang, especially the Uighurs will be the biggest victims."
State-run China Daily described those behind the attack as "religious extremists". "What they have done is against the interests and will of the majority of Uighurs, who have benefited from the unity of the country," it said.
Rebiya Kadeer, leader of the World Uighur Congress, which represents the Uighur community in exile, told Reuters news agency she was afraid that the incident would be used by China to "justify its heavy-handed repression" in Xinjiang.
"Chinese claims simply cannot be accepted as facts without an independent and international investigation," she said.
"It is difficult to tell [the truth] at the moment, given the strict control of information by the Chinese government on this tragic incident."
"If the Uighurs did it, I believe they did it out of desperation because there is no channel for the Uighur people to seek redress for any kind of injustice they had suffered under Chinese rule."
'Much stricter'
Xinjiang's provincial government spokesperson, Hou Hanmin, told the BBC the region had not received direct orders from Beijing to increase security checks on the area's minority Uighur Muslims.Xinjiang's provincial government spokesperson, Hou Hanmin, told the BBC the region had not received direct orders from Beijing to increase security checks on the area's minority Uighur Muslims.
However, Ms Hou confirmed, inspections that are normally executed on big holidays are now being carried out daily. However, Ms Hou confirmed, inspections that were normally executed on big holidays were now being carried out daily.
A police officer working in the eastern part of Xinjiang's capital, Urumqi, told the BBC by phone that the area's security level had been raised to level one, its peak level, on Monday afternoon, right after the incident in Beijing.A police officer working in the eastern part of Xinjiang's capital, Urumqi, told the BBC by phone that the area's security level had been raised to level one, its peak level, on Monday afternoon, right after the incident in Beijing.
Normally, the officer explained, the security level at this time of year was lowered to a two or a three. Instead, police had registered all "sensitive religious families" and they were visiting those homes more often.Normally, the officer explained, the security level at this time of year was lowered to a two or a three. Instead, police had registered all "sensitive religious families" and they were visiting those homes more often.
A waitress working in a local restaurant in Xinjiang's Shanshan county, home of one of the original Tiananmen suspects, told the BBC that she had been warned by community workers that some of the people responsible for the Beijing incident were still at large.A waitress working in a local restaurant in Xinjiang's Shanshan county, home of one of the original Tiananmen suspects, told the BBC that she had been warned by community workers that some of the people responsible for the Beijing incident were still at large.
Everyone in the neighbourhood was given a whistle, the waitress explained, and they were told to sound the alert to call for help if they "saw anyone suspicious with a big beard or a burka".Everyone in the neighbourhood was given a whistle, the waitress explained, and they were told to sound the alert to call for help if they "saw anyone suspicious with a big beard or a burka".
In Urumqi - the scene of ethnic rioting in 2009 that left 200 people dead - tight security was said to be in place.In Urumqi - the scene of ethnic rioting in 2009 that left 200 people dead - tight security was said to be in place.
"The inspection in Urumqi is much stricter. There are police checking our car trunks at every gas station and big markets," Mr Feng, a driver, told the BBC."The inspection in Urumqi is much stricter. There are police checking our car trunks at every gas station and big markets," Mr Feng, a driver, told the BBC.
"On the streets, you see more special police squads and local security teams, especially in crowded places like supermarkets and shopping malls. For cars coming into Urumqi city, those from southern Xinjiang will be inspected very strictly, and ethnic looking people have to go through strict inspection as well.""On the streets, you see more special police squads and local security teams, especially in crowded places like supermarkets and shopping malls. For cars coming into Urumqi city, those from southern Xinjiang will be inspected very strictly, and ethnic looking people have to go through strict inspection as well."
'Step up vigilance'
Meanwhile, state-run Chinese media denounced the crash and urged a united front against terrorism.
"This is the first time that violent terrorist forces from Xinjiang have caused a serious incident in Beijing," state-controlled newspaper Global Times said on Thursday.
"The inland people need to step up vigilance," it said, adding: "People from Xinjiang, especially the Uighurs will be the biggest victims."
State-run China Daily described those behind the attack as "religious extremists". "What they have done is against the interests and will of the majority of Uighurs, who have benefited from the unity of the country," it said.
Rebiya Kadeer, leader of the World Uighur Congress, which represents the Uighur community in exile, told Reuters news agency she was afraid that the incident would be used by China to "justify its heavy-handed repression" in Xinjiang.
"Chinese claims simply cannot be accepted as facts without an independent and international investigation," she said.
"It is difficult to tell [the truth] at the moment, given the strict control of information by the Chinese government on this tragic incident."
"If the Uighurs did it, I believe they did it out of desperation because there is no channel for the Uighur people to seek redress for any kind of injustice they had suffered under Chinese rule."