Train Station Bombing In China Linked To Religious Extremists

Train Station Bombing In China Linked To Religious Extremists

A terrorist attack at a train station in Urumaqi, a city in China’s western Xinjiang region was attributed to two religious extremist that were killed in the blast. The attack left three people dead two of whom were the terrorists and 79 injured in what regional sources say was a knife and bomb attack.

The attack came just hours after Chinese president Xi Jinping finished a tour of the area. Official government representatives of the Xinjiang area said that attack was carried out by two religious extremists, who were known to have participated in extremists and subversive religious activities.

One of the attackers was identified as the 39 year old Sedierding Shawuti from Xayar county. He was, according to local sources a member of the Muslim Uighur minority. The other man was not identified while the third deceased person was identified as an innocent bystander.

The Xinjiang region is famed for its rich natural resources being strategically located at the boarders of central Asia. It is also known for a series of violent attacks which the government blames on Islamist militants and separatists.

It is not yet clear if the attacks were meant to intimidate or endanger president Xi Jinping or whether his visit in the region during the attacks was a simple coincidence.

Posted by James Fried on Saturday May 03 2014, 2:58 AM EST. Ref: Reuters. Link. All trademarks acknowledged. Filed under Featured News, World. Comments and Trackbacks closed. Follow responses: RSS 2.0