The violence that killed at least 12 dead Tuesday in the Chinese autonomous region of Xinjiang have been triggered by an attack on a market by members of the Turkic-speaking Uighur minority, police said Wednesday.
“Around 5:30 p.m. or 6:00 p.m. (local time) a dozen rioters carrying knives arose in a market of a district inhabited mainly by Han”, said a police officer named Tuo.
At least 12 people were killed Tuesday in these riots in Yecheng (Kargilik), in Kashgar Prefecture (far-western China), scene of frequent disturbances between the Turkic Uighur minority and Han, Xinhua news agency reported.
Xinhua added that the police had in turn killed “at least two murderers” and chasing the other.
“Most of the victims were Han, but they were also among the Uighurs. Five rioters were shot, not two, and they were all Uighurs,” recounted for his part Mr. Tuo.