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Death penalty for Tiananmen crash | Death penalty for Tiananmen crash |
(35 minutes later) | |
Three people have been given death sentences over a fatal car crash in Tiananmen Square last October. | Three people have been given death sentences over a fatal car crash in Tiananmen Square last October. |
Chinese state media said the men were convicted at the court in Xinjiang province of a "violent terror attack". | Chinese state media said the men were convicted at the court in Xinjiang province of a "violent terror attack". |
A car ploughed into tourists before catching fire, leaving five people dead and 38 others injured. | A car ploughed into tourists before catching fire, leaving five people dead and 38 others injured. |
Reports said at least two of the men appeared to be from the Muslim Uighur population, which Beijing accuses of waging a violent separatist campaign. | Reports said at least two of the men appeared to be from the Muslim Uighur population, which Beijing accuses of waging a violent separatist campaign. |
Xinhua reported that the three men - Husanjan Wuxur, Yusup Umarniyaz and Yusup Ahmat - were found guilty of "organising and leading a terrorist group and endangering public security with dangerous methods". | |
Five others were given jail sentences for "participating in a terrorist group" and endangering security. | |
Uighurs have been blamed this year for a string of attacks around China. | Uighurs have been blamed this year for a string of attacks around China. |
Uighur leaders accuse the authorities in Beijing of repression, but deny that they are co-ordinating a terrorist campaign. | Uighur leaders accuse the authorities in Beijing of repression, but deny that they are co-ordinating a terrorist campaign. |
The car crashed into a crowd and burst into flames, killing two tourists - one Chinese and one from the Philippines - and injuring 38 other people. | The car crashed into a crowd and burst into flames, killing two tourists - one Chinese and one from the Philippines - and injuring 38 other people. |
Three people who were in the car also died. | Three people who were in the car also died. |
Some reports at the time quoted officials as saying it was a deliberate suicide attack. | Some reports at the time quoted officials as saying it was a deliberate suicide attack. |
But other police officials said the authorities had been chasing the car at the time of the crash. | But other police officials said the authorities had been chasing the car at the time of the crash. |
Chinese media also reported that three men wielding knives burst into a gaming hall in Hotan, Xinjiang, and attacked a group of people playing chess on Sunday afternoon. Four people were hurt. | |
Two of the attackers died when confronted by armed patrolmen while the third was captured. | |
Beijing has blamed a series of violent incidents on Uighur separatists. These include attacks at railway stations in Urumqi and Kunming. | |
At least 31 people were killed and more than 90 suffered injuries in May when two cars crashed through an Urumqi market and explosives were tossed into the crowd. | |
It followed a bomb and knife attack at Urumqi's south railway station in April, which killed three and injured 79 others. | |
The authorities have since tightened security in Xinjiang and launched what they call an "anti-terrorism campaign". Xinhua said the police in Xinjiang is offering cash rewards of up to 30,000 yuan (£2,840) to citizens who "turn over guns, explosives or provide tips". | |
Agencies have reported that officials have so far received more than 300 tips from the public and detained 60 people as a result of the information. |