Knife duo kill six in China's Xinjiang region

[alp227]

Source: BBC News

Two knife-wielding men have killed at least six people in an attack in China's western Xinjiang region, official media say.

The assailants reportedly stabbed a truck driver before attacking a crowd late on Saturday in Kashgar city.

It is the second attack of the month in Xinjiang, which is home to a Muslim Uighur minority and has seen episodes of ethnic tension.

A local official was quoted as saying that both attackers were Uighurs.

Read more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-14356532

[iamthebandfanman]

1. ive been curious about this subject...

does china have many muslim terrorist attacks or violence?

i had always found it odd that you dont hear much about it, with them being so close to the region and communists being labled as Godless and all...

[AlecBGreen]

3. China has a large muslim population

primarily in the NW. Xinjiang, Gansu, Ningxia provinces have large numbers of Uighur and Hui minorities. The problems that arise are classic chinese issues: locals are incensed that Han immigrants displace them and take many of the best paying jobs.

There is a movement in NW China to break away from the central government. Bejiing will have NONE of that. The central government will not tolerate one iota of that kind of talk and they are ruthless in their response. So far, the movement has been 'relatively' quiet with few attacks or bombs or things of that nature. Its hard to know for sure since info is slow to come out.

FWIW, Xinjiang is a stunning region. I cant wait to go there some time. Here is the Taklamakan desert, translated as "You go in and you dont come out"



The Tianshan mountain range

[iamthebandfanman]

7. i see.

so im guessing china puts forth effort to keep news of these incidents from typically getting out to media globally?
id imagine they wouldnt want to seem as weak as the rest of us when it comes to terrorism (kinda a fight you cant win, military wise atleast)?
i knew most of western china, north and south, had some sort of succession movement .. just didnt know how strong the northern region was...you mostly hear about tibet after all ;)



ive actually spent alot of time looking at the Tianshan mountain region on google earth ;) its breath taking.

[pipelinepirate]

4. NW China often has violent terrorist attacks

I was in Kashgar for several days before heading into Pakistani in late July 2008. Kashgar is the gateway city to the Silk Road and is a beautiful place with very interesting people. You have to keep you eyes open though and be aware of your surroundings. After returning from Pakistani I stayed a few more days in Kashgar and left on Aug 1. I was lucky because on Aug 4 there was an attack which killed 16 Chinese troops while on morning exercise. The city was locked down for many days afterward.

http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1829200,00.html

http://freewaysoul.blogspot.com/2008/07/kashgar-gateway-to-silk-road.html

[Township75]

5. My impression of Muslims in China was...

that they are very different than Muslims in the Middle East. I am not Muslim, but when I was in China, I was allowed to go into a Mosque in China which would NOT be allowed in the Middle East. Someone from Saudi Arabia I was with told me that the Mosque was nothing like what one would see in the Middle East.

I think while it is the same religion, there is some variability in rules/customs like anything that spans the globe.

[MyrnaLoy]

2. The NRA

would put a stop to all this knife fightin' crap in China. Guns would stop it cold.

[RSillsbee]

6. have you turned in your gun and permit yet?

enquiring minds want to know

[TheWraith]

8. Yep, murder was unheard of before firearms were invented.

:eyes: