China police kill 17 people in ‘anti-terror raid’ in Xinjiang
Chinese security forces in the northwestern region of Xinjiang have killed 17 people accused of carrying out an attack at a coal mine that left at least 50 dead.
According to the Xinjiang police, the 17 killed were all suspects in the September 18 attack on the Sogan colliery in Baicheng county.
"I heard from colleagues who participated in the operation that the military blew up the cave where the suspects were hiding," said a police source, adding, "That is why we were able to kill all of them with zero victims [from our side]. Seventeen corpses were gathered after the explosion."
On Saturday, Chinese state media published rare pictures showing what it said was a 56-day mission by armed police to root out militants in Xinjiang, without giving details of the target. The photos had been provided by the Ministry of Public Security. Some of those reports were later removed from the internet.
Hundreds of people have died or been detained in violent attacks and unrest in Xinjiang region and other parts of China over the past three years. China has vowed to step up operations against what it calls "violent terrorists."
Human rights groups argue that China has carried out a harsh crackdown on its minority citizens in Xinjiang. The critics also say that Beijing’s crackdown has created an atmosphere of repression and caused more violence.
Beijing, however, strongly denies abusing human rights in autonomous Xinjiang, saying it is facing a campaign from radicals and separatists.
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