At least 27 people were killed and many injured in an unrest in China’s restive Xinjiang province.

Beijing, June 26/Nationalturk – At least 27 people were killed and many injured in an unrest allegedly between native Uygur Muslims and Han Chinese migrants in China’s restive Xinjiang province on Wednesday.

“The riots, which occurred around 0600 hours local time, left 27 people dead in a remote Lukqun township of Shanshan County in Turpan Prefecture in northwest Xinjiang province,” China’s state news agency Xinhua reported quoting officials.

‘Knife-wielding mobs attacked police stations, govt buildings’

Officials with Xinjiang’s regional committee of the Communist Party of China said knife-wielding mobs attacked the township’s police stations, the local government building and a construction site. “The mob stabbed at people and set fire to police cars”.

Security officials said 17 people including nine policemen and security guards and eight civilians were killed in the clashes. “Police also opened fire on the mob, killing 10 rioters,  thus taking the death toll to 27”.

3 rioters arrested, additional policemen deployed

They said three rioters were arrested while police had launched a manhunt to track others, who had fled and were at large.

The security additional police and security men have been rushed to the area to maintain peace.

Although the Xinhua report did not identify the people involved in the unrest but in all likelihood  the clashes might have taken place between native Uygur Muslims and Han Chinese migrants. The local Uygur population has  been protesting against settling of Hans migrants into the province.

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Faiz Ahmad / NationalTurk China News

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