This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-27225308
The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Explosion at China Xinjiang railway station kills three | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| An explosion has hit a railway station in China's western Xinjiang region, killing three and injuring 79 others, officials and state media report. | |
| The blast hit Urumqi's south railway station on Wednesday evening, officials said. The cause is not clear. Officials said the scene was now "under control". | |
| Xinjiang has experienced several violent clashes over the past months. | Xinjiang has experienced several violent clashes over the past months. |
| China's President Xi Jinping visited the region this week, and has promised to step up anti-terrorism efforts. | China's President Xi Jinping visited the region this week, and has promised to step up anti-terrorism efforts. |
| Verifying reports from the region is difficult because the flow of information out of Xinjiang is tightly controlled. | Verifying reports from the region is difficult because the flow of information out of Xinjiang is tightly controlled. |
| 'Debris and suitcases' | 'Debris and suitcases' |
| "At around 19:10 on 30 April, an explosion happened at the passenger exit of Urumqi South Station when Train K453 from Chengdu to Urumqi arrived at the station, causing casualties," Xinjiang's local government news portal said. | "At around 19:10 on 30 April, an explosion happened at the passenger exit of Urumqi South Station when Train K453 from Chengdu to Urumqi arrived at the station, causing casualties," Xinjiang's local government news portal said. |
| Witnesses told Xinhua news agency that the explosion appeared to be centred around luggage left on the ground between a station exit and a bus stop. | Witnesses told Xinhua news agency that the explosion appeared to be centred around luggage left on the ground between a station exit and a bus stop. |
| Photos on social media, which could not be independently verified, appeared to show suitcases and debris strewn across a street after the blast. | Photos on social media, which could not be independently verified, appeared to show suitcases and debris strewn across a street after the blast. |
| However, several microblog posts and photos related to the explosion appeared to have been quickly deleted from Sina Weibo, China's largest microblog platform. | However, several microblog posts and photos related to the explosion appeared to have been quickly deleted from Sina Weibo, China's largest microblog platform. |
| Luo Fuyong, a spokesman for the regional government, told Reuters news agency the situation was now "well under control". | Luo Fuyong, a spokesman for the regional government, told Reuters news agency the situation was now "well under control". |
| "The wounded are receiving medical attention. Public security forces are on the scene dealing with it," he said. | "The wounded are receiving medical attention. Public security forces are on the scene dealing with it," he said. |
| The government was assessing casualties and the cause of the explosion, Mr Luo added. | The government was assessing casualties and the cause of the explosion, Mr Luo added. |
| The station was scheduled to launch three new intercity railway lines linking Urumqi with three other cities in Xinjiang on Thursday, Xinhua said. | The station was scheduled to launch three new intercity railway lines linking Urumqi with three other cities in Xinjiang on Thursday, Xinhua said. |
| The blast also came as President Xi Jinping completed a visit to Xinjiang - the first since he became president in 2012. | The blast also came as President Xi Jinping completed a visit to Xinjiang - the first since he became president in 2012. |
| During the visit, Xinhua news agency said Mr Xi had vowed to deploy a "strike-first approach against terrorists in the region", and said the province's long-term stability was "vital to the whole country's reform, development and stability". | During the visit, Xinhua news agency said Mr Xi had vowed to deploy a "strike-first approach against terrorists in the region", and said the province's long-term stability was "vital to the whole country's reform, development and stability". |
| Xinjiang has witnessed serious ethnic tensions in recent years, the BBC's Martin Patience in Beijing reports. | Xinjiang has witnessed serious ethnic tensions in recent years, the BBC's Martin Patience in Beijing reports. |
| The region is home to the country's Uighur Muslim minority, who have long complained of repression under Chinese rule - an accusation Beijing denies, our correspondent adds. | The region is home to the country's Uighur Muslim minority, who have long complained of repression under Chinese rule - an accusation Beijing denies, our correspondent adds. |
| In March, Chinese officials blamed separatists from the Xinjiang region for a mass knife attack in Kunming, south-west China, which killed 29 and left more than 130 injured. | In March, Chinese officials blamed separatists from the Xinjiang region for a mass knife attack in Kunming, south-west China, which killed 29 and left more than 130 injured. |