Mob rampage in China leaves dozens dead

A mob armed with knives has rampaged through part of China’s Xinjiang region, leaving dozens of people dead, state media reported.

Many others were injured in the violence in Shache county near the city of Kashgar in the volatile north-western region, Xinhua News Agency said.

It said the mob first attacked a police station and government offices in the township of Elixku before moving on to a neighbouring township, attacking civilians and smashing vehicles along the way.

Xinhua said dozens of people were killed or injured in the attacks, and that police shot and killed dozens of the attackers.

“An initial investigation showed that it was a premeditated terror attack. Further investigation is under way,” Xinhua said.

There has been increasing violence in Xinjiang blamed on pro-independence militants from the region’s native Turkic Uighur Muslim ethnic group.

Most of the attacks have relied on crude weaponry such as swords, bombs, and homemade explosives.

The government says the attackers have ties to overseas Islamic terror groups, although it has provided little evidence to back up its claim.