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China has increased security measures in Xinjiang following more clashes between police and members of the Uighur Muslim ethnic minority group that left dozens of people dead.
According to Chinese state media agency Xinhua, the clashes were a premeditated terrorist attack, but a spokesman for the World Uighur Congress said Uighurs were marching in protest against oppressive Chinese policies and restrictions during Ramadan, such as police breaking into Uighurs’ houses, making random arrests, holding detainees for interrogations, and brutally beating people on their way to the mosque.
Clashes took place in Shache county, in the townships of Elixku and Huangdi. In Elixku, a group of assailants, wielding knives and axes, attacked a police station and government offices, the South China Morning Post reported. In the town of Huangdi, according to Xinhua, assailants damaged more than 30 police cars, burning six of them.
Chinese police responded by shooting towards the crowd, killing dozens and leaving many wounded, Reuters reported. A spokesperson for the World Uighur Congress said 100 people were killed.
While Chinese media say violence was limited to the two towns, Uighurs say the violence also spread to Kashgar. There, a French tourist told Reuters he saw a dead body outside a mosque on Wednesday. According to the Guardian, the person found dead was a high profile Xinjiang imam who supported the Communist Party.
The tourist told Reuters he saw armed police convoys entering the town and preventing civilians cars from coming in.
According to the Guardian, late on Wednesday roads were reopened and internet access, which was cut after the killing, was restored.
Uighur opposition to Chinese rule in Xinjiang has been ongoing for years, but recent months have seen a rapid escalation of violence.
