Xinjiang Rocked by String of Deadly Attacks

Kashgar, Xinjiang has been rocked by a wave of violent attacks in the past two days, leaving nine dead and at least 28 people injured. Five of the 14 suspects were killed and five arrested.

One incident took place on the evening of July 30, according to reports, after two suspects hijacked a van and, after killing the driver with a knife, drove the vehicle into a market killing six people and injuring 28. One suspect was killed during the ensuing struggle and one was arrested.

Then on Kashgar’s “Pedestrian Street” at 4 p.m. on July 31, about 12 suspects killed 10 people, according to reports. Four of the attackers were killed, four were arrested, and four escaped. As of last night the number of casualties is still not certain, with a police officer possibly among the dead.

Due to the Chinese regime’s strict control over communications in the ethnic Muslim area, the incidents and death tolls are difficult to corroborate independently. In a previous incident on July 18 the authorities claimed that Uyghur attackers had set fire to a police station and taken hostages, but this account was hotly disputed by overseas Uyghur groups.