President Xi Jinping orders 'crushing blow' for terrorists
Print Edition
TWO religious extremists carried out Wednesday night’s terrorist attack at a train station in northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, police said yesterday.
The two suspects, who had strapped bombs to their bodies, were killed in an explosion. An innocent citizen also died and 79 others were injured in the attack in the regional capital Urumqi.
Police identified the two suspects with a history of religious extremism, including Sedirdin Sawut, a 39-year-old man from Xayar County, Aksu in southern Xinjiang. The two had a long history of involvement in religious extremism, police said.
At 7:10pm on Wednesday, the pair stabbed at people with knives and set off explosives at the exit to the city’s South Railway Station.
Some of the injured have been discharged from hospital and public order has been restored.
Chinese President Xi Jinping urged “decisive actions” after the incident.
“The battle to combat violence and terrorism will not allow even a moment of slackness, and decisive actions must be taken to resolutely suppress the terrorists’ rampant momentum,” Xi said.
During an inspection tour of Xinjiang which ended on the day of the attack, Xi said safeguarding the country’s unity and fighting separatism were of the upmost importance and in the basic interests of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang.
While fighting terrorism, China will deploy a “strike-first” strategy against terrorists in the region to deter enemies and inspire people, he said.
Xi ordered troops stationed in Xinjiang to deal a “crushing blow” to terrorists.
Visiting the People’s Liberation Army troops stationed in Xinjiang, Xi ordered PLA forces to assist local government and Party departments in combating terrorism and safeguarding social stability.
All forms of terrorism should be rooted out in an early phase, while decisive action must be taken to stop terrorists gaining momentum, he said.
Xi said the long-term stability of Xinjiang is vital to the whole country’s reform, development and stability, as well as to national unity, ethnic harmony and national security.
He called on the PLA and the armed police to play a better role in protecting China’s borders and combating violent and terrorist activities.
They must work to enhance ethnic unity and should participate in Xinjiang’s development and construction, in order to contribute to the region’s lasting peace and order, Xi said.
Meanwhile, Xinjiang’s first intercity train pulled out of the station yesterday morning as scheduled.
Zhang Changling, a passenger who took the train with his 10-year-old granddaughter for an excursion to Shihezi, said: “I didn’t give up our travel plans because I don’t think terrorist attacks should intimidate anyone. Neither can they destroy our dream of a better life.”
The 67-year-old added: “It will only let us see the inhuman nature of terrorists.”
At the railway station square yesterday, armed police and special police joined railway police on duty while the ticket hall and the station lobby were operating as normal.
The owner of a hostel near the railway station said it was business as usual at his hotel.
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