Several large explosions reported in Xinjiang, China

Sunday, August 10, 2008 

Authorities say that "violent terrorists" attempted to blow up sites in the Xinjiang province of the country. Police say at least 11 people were killed, all except one were reported to be the attackers responsible for the blasts. Police say three more were arrested and another three are "still at large."

The province of Xinjiang, China highlighting Kuqa.
Image: Joowwww and Jason Safoutin.

Monsters and Critics.com quote Deutsche Presse-Agentur as saying witnesses on scene reported a plane flying over the town of Kuqa which was followed by 20 large "flashes", but "no fire or smoke" which was then followed by "sporadic" gunfire. According to Xinhua the explosions occurred at about 3:20 local time (19:20 GMT) and 4:00 (20:00 GMT).

Despite the claims by police, Xinhua stated that authorities sealed off the town where the attacks have occurred and exchanged gunfire with the terrorists killing at least one while another, strapped with explosives, detonated himself. One other terrorist was injured and one was arrested. Military personnel were also reported to have been dispatched to the area. One early report stated that the government offices in Kuqa are unaware of any bombings.

The explosions, which witnesses report as home-made, were directed toward shopping centers, government buildings, hotels and military offices. At least two police cars were also destroyed by the blasts. Xinhua reports that the bombs were "bent pipes, gas canisters and liquid gas tanks." One attacker drove a three-wheeled bike packed with explosives into the public safety building in Kuqa, which killed one security official and injured two civilians. Hours later, while police were hunting for more suspects, several terrorists began to throw bombs at them. Police killed two, while three others who were strapped with explosives detonated themselves.

Police and government officials refuse to confirm or deny the reports by Xinhua.

The Xinjiang region has a strong independence movement, largely in the form of 8 million Muslim Uyghurs. The East Turkestan Islamic Movement wishes to create an independent Islamic state out of part of what is currently Xinjiang. China has stated that the Uyghur separatists are the biggest potential terrorist threat to the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.

No one has claimed to be responsible for the blasts.

Sources

• William Foreman. "New violence in China's restive west kills 11" — Casper Star Tribune, August 10, 2008
• "New deadly bomb attacks rock China's Muslim west" — AFP, August 10, 2008
• "Xinhua: Bombings in the restive Xinjiang region" — PR-Inside.com, August 10, 2008
• Chris Buckley. "UPDATE 5-Blasts kill two in China's restive Xinjiang -Xinhua" — Reuters, August 9, 2008
• "China: Nine killed in explosion in Xinjiang" — AKI, August 9, 2008
• "Xinhua: Explosions in the restive Xinjiang region" — PR-Inside.com, August 9, 2008
• "Serial Explosions Kill Two in Xinjiang" — China Radio International, August 9, 2008
• "Explosions tear through western China" — Macquarie National News, August 9, 2008
• "Explosions, rifle fire reported in north-west China (1st Lead)" — Monstors and Critics, August 9, 2008
• "Several blasts in China's northwestern Xinjiang: state medi" — Agence France-Presse, August 9, 2008
• "Blasts in China's Xinjiang region" — BBC News Online, August 9, 2008
• "Several explosions rock Kuqa in China's remote Xinjiang" — Xinhua News Agency, August 10, 2008
• "Country Reports on Terrorism" — US Office of the Coordinator for Counterterrorism, April 30, 2007