BEIJING: Chinese police shot and killed 14 people during a riot near the old Silk Road city of Kashgar in which two policemen were also killed in a region that has a substantial Muslim population.
China has previously called some of the violence in the far western region of Xinjiang the work of Islamist militants plotting holy war.
Describing the incident which happened late on Sunday, Hua Chunying, a spokeswoman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stopped short of directly blaming Islamist militants but said a “violent terror gang” attacked police with explosives.
“It once again showed the true face of violent terror. It should be condemned by all people who love peace and stability,” she told a daily news briefing. “This conspiracy does not enjoy popular support and is doomed to failure.”
The regional government said police were attacked by a mob throwing explosive devices and wielding knives when they went to arrest “criminal suspects” in a village near Kashgar.
“Police responded decisively,” adding that two people had been detained and that an investigation had been launched.
The official Xinhua news agency said in an English-language report that “terrorists” were responsible. It did not elaborate.
A police officer in the county where the incident occurred, called Shufu county in Chinese, said it was “not convenient” to provide any additional information.
Earlier, at least nine civilians and two policemen were killed when a group of people armed with axes and knives attacked a police station also near Kashgar last month, state media has said.
Reuters
