Several Large Explosions Reported in Xinjiang, China

According to the Xinhua News Agency, the official press agency for the People’s Republic of China, “several explosions” have been reported in the Xinjiang province of the country. Adnkronos.com is reporting at least nine people are killed, with several in critical condition at a hospital.

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).

Explosions hit police stations, government buildings and military offices said Dilxat Raxit an activist who was quoting Uighurs who had been at the location at the time of the bombings.

Authorities are said to have sealed off the town where the attacks have occurred. Military personnel are also reported to have been dispatched to the area. One report states that the government offices in Kuqa are unaware of any bombings.

The Xinjiang region has a strong independence movement, largely in the form of 8 million Muslim Uighurs. 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 Uighur separatists are the biggest potential terrorist threat to the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.

By Wiki News

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