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-china-27225308

The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 4 Version 5
Explosion at China Xinjiang railway station kills three Deadly China blast at Xinjiang railway station
(35 minutes later)
An explosion has hit a railway station in China's western Xinjiang region, killing three and injuring 79 others, officials and state media report. A bomb and knife attack at a railway station in China's western Xinjiang region has killed three and injured 79 others, officials and state media say.
The blast hit Urumqi's south railway station on Wednesday evening, officials said. The cause is not clear. Officials said the scene was now "under control". The attackers used explosives and knives at Urumqi's south railway station on Wednesday, officials said.
Xinjiang has experienced several violent clashes over the past months. The local government described it as a "violent terrorist attack" but said the situation was now under control.
China's President Xi Jinping visited the region this week, and has promised to step up anti-terrorism efforts. China's President Xi Jinping, who has just visited the region, has promised to step up anti-terrorism efforts.
Verifying reports from the region is difficult because the flow of information out of Xinjiang is tightly controlled.Verifying reports from the region is difficult because the flow of information out of Xinjiang is tightly controlled.
Xinjiang has experienced several violent clashes over the past months.
'Debris and suitcases''Debris and suitcases'
"At around 19:10 on 30 April, an explosion happened at the passenger exit of Urumqi South Station when Train K453 from Chengdu to Urumqi arrived at the station, causing casualties," Xinjiang's local government news portal said."At around 19:10 on 30 April, an explosion happened at the passenger exit of Urumqi South Station when Train K453 from Chengdu to Urumqi arrived at the station, causing casualties," Xinjiang's local government news portal said.
"According to initial police investigations... the attackers used knives to stab people at the station exit, and detonated explosives at the same time," it said, adding that all the injured were receiving medical treatment.
Witnesses told Xinhua news agency that the explosion appeared to be centred around luggage left on the ground between a station exit and a bus stop.Witnesses told Xinhua news agency that the explosion appeared to be centred around luggage left on the ground between a station exit and a bus stop.
Photos on social media, which could not be independently verified, appeared to show suitcases and debris strewn across a street after the blast.Photos on social media, which could not be independently verified, appeared to show suitcases and debris strewn across a street after the blast.
However, several microblog posts and photos related to the explosion appeared to have been quickly deleted from Sina Weibo, China's largest microblog platform.However, several microblog posts and photos related to the explosion appeared to have been quickly deleted from Sina Weibo, China's largest microblog platform.
Luo Fuyong, a spokesman for the regional government, told Reuters news agency the situation was now "well under control".Luo Fuyong, a spokesman for the regional government, told Reuters news agency the situation was now "well under control".
"The wounded are receiving medical attention. Public security forces are on the scene dealing with it," he said."The wounded are receiving medical attention. Public security forces are on the scene dealing with it," he said.
The government was assessing casualties and the cause of the explosion, Mr Luo added.The government was assessing casualties and the cause of the explosion, Mr Luo added.
The station was scheduled to launch three new intercity railway lines linking Urumqi with three other cities in Xinjiang on Thursday, Xinhua said.The station was scheduled to launch three new intercity railway lines linking Urumqi with three other cities in Xinjiang on Thursday, Xinhua said.
The blast also came as President Xi Jinping completed a visit to Xinjiang - the first since he became president in 2012.The blast also came as President Xi Jinping completed a visit to Xinjiang - the first since he became president in 2012.
During the visit, Xinhua news agency said Mr Xi had vowed to deploy a "strike-first approach against terrorists in the region", and said the province's long-term stability was "vital to the whole country's reform, development and stability".During the visit, Xinhua news agency said Mr Xi had vowed to deploy a "strike-first approach against terrorists in the region", and said the province's long-term stability was "vital to the whole country's reform, development and stability".
Xinjiang has witnessed serious ethnic tensions in recent years, the BBC's Martin Patience in Beijing reports.Xinjiang has witnessed serious ethnic tensions in recent years, the BBC's Martin Patience in Beijing reports.
The region is home to the country's Uighur Muslim minority, who have long complained of repression under Chinese rule - an accusation Beijing denies, our correspondent adds.The region is home to the country's Uighur Muslim minority, who have long complained of repression under Chinese rule - an accusation Beijing denies, our correspondent adds.
In March, Chinese officials blamed separatists from the Xinjiang region for a mass knife attack in Kunming, south-west China, which killed 29 and left more than 130 injured.In March, Chinese officials blamed separatists from the Xinjiang region for a mass knife attack in Kunming, south-west China, which killed 29 and left more than 130 injured.