Chinese authorities say 82 suspected terrorists have been arrested this year for plotting to sabotage the Olympic Games in Beijing.
Chinese authorities say 82 suspected terrorists have been arrested this year for plotting to sabotage the Olympic Games in Beijing.
They say they have broken up five terrorist groups in the mainly Muslim western region of Xinjiang.
They say they have broken up five terrorist groups in the mainly Muslim western region of Xinjiang.
The news follows earlier reports that police had killed five militants who wanted to wage holy war in the region.
The news follows earlier reports that police had killed five militants who wanted to wage holy war in the region.
International security experts have questioned the level of the threat that China says it faces.
International security experts have questioned the level of the threat that China says it faces.
Human rights campaigners accuse China of exaggerating an alleged threat to the Olympics to justify repression of the Muslim Uighur population in Xinjiang.
Human rights campaigners accuse China of exaggerating an alleged threat to the Olympics to justify repression of the Muslim Uighur population in Xinjiang.
CHINA'S UIGHURS Ethnically Turkic Muslims, mainly in XinjiangMade bid for independent state in 1940sSporadic violence in Xinjiang since 1991Uighurs worried about Chinese immigration and erosion of traditional culture
CHINA'S UIGHURS Ethnically Turkic Muslims, mainly in XinjiangMade bid for independent state in 1940sSporadic violence in Xinjiang since 1991Uighurs worried about Chinese immigration and erosion of traditional culture
The BBC's James Reynolds, in Beijing, says the report from China's public security bureau sums up much of what is already known.
The BBC's James Reynolds, in Beijing, says the report from China's public security bureau sums up much of what is already known.
In January the police carried out a raid in the Xinjiang capital, Urumqi, in which two militants were killed, and two months later China said there had been an attempted hijacking of a flight from Urumqi.
In January the police carried out a raid in the Xinjiang capital, Urumqi, in which two militants were killed, and two months later China said there had been an attempted hijacking of a flight from Urumqi.
In April, China said that its security forces had broken up a number of plots to carry out suicide bombings and to kidnap athletes during the Olympics.
In April, China said that its security forces had broken up a number of plots to carry out suicide bombings and to kidnap athletes during the Olympics.
Most recently, Chinese state-controlled media reported that the police had killed five militants in Urumqi, injured two more and arrested eight others.
Most recently, Chinese state-controlled media reported that the police had killed five militants in Urumqi, injured two more and arrested eight others.
Hundreds of checkpoints
Hundreds of checkpoints
Our correspondent says that China has suggested the threat it faces comes mainly from a group called the East Turkestan Islamic movement.
Our correspondent says that China has suggested the threat it faces comes mainly from a group called the East Turkestan Islamic movement.
China says this movement has links to Al Qaeda but international security experts have questioned the threat that China says it faces.
China says this movement has links to Al Qaeda but international security experts have questioned the threat that China says it faces.
As the Olympics approaches, China is stepping up security measures. A dual ring of hundreds of checkpoints is due to go up around Beijing starting next week.
As the Olympics approaches, China is stepping up security measures. A dual ring of hundreds of checkpoints is due to go up around Beijing starting next week.
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