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Death penalty in Xinjiang for China Tiananmen crash | |
(about 9 hours 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. |
The men were convicted in Xinjiang province for a "violent terror attack", state media said. The car hit tourists before catching fire, killing five. | |
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. |
China also executed 13 people on Monday for "terrorist attacks", reports said. | |
State-run news agency Xinhua reported that the three men sentenced on the Tiananmen crash - Husanjan Wuxur, Yusup Umarniyaz and Yusup Ahmat - were guilty of "organising and leading a terrorist group and endangering public security". | |
Five others were given jail sentences for "participating in a terrorist group" and endangering security. | Five others were given jail sentences for "participating in a terrorist group" and endangering security. |
In October, a car crashed into a crowd in Tiananmen Square 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. | |
Some reports at the time quoted officials as saying it was a suicide attack. But other police officials said the authorities had been chasing the car. | |
'String of attacks' | |
Separately, 13 people were executed over "terrorist attacks and violent crimes" in Xinjiang, Xinhua reported. | |
Those executed were involved in seven cases, Xinhua said, without providing further details. | |
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. |
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. | 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. | Two of the attackers died when confronted by armed patrolmen while the third was captured. |
Beijing has also blamed attacks in Kunming and Xinjiang's Urumqi on Uighur separatists. | |
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. | 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, and a mass knife attack in Kunming, south-west China, which killed 29 and left more than 130 injured. | |
The authorities have since tightened security in Xinjiang and launched what they call an "anti-terrorism campaign". | |