15 Dead After Attack In West China’s Xinjiang Region

China Xinjiang Police Shootings

An attack in China’s unsettled western Xinjiang region has left 14 people injured and 15 other people dead, state media reported Saturday, being the latest in a wave of ethnic violence that has claimed dozens of lives over the past year. Associated Press reports:

The official Xinhua News Agency reported that the attack took place at a “food street” Friday in Shache county, the same region where state media said a series of attacks in July left 96 people dead, including 59 assailants.

The Tianshan news portal said the assailants in Friday’s attack wielded explosives, knives and at least one vehicle. Xinhua reported that 11 of the 15 people killed were assailants.

Police in Shache county declined to provide information about the incident.

Xinjiang has seen repeated violence over the past year as members of the Muslim Uighur (WEE-gur) minority group have bristled under what they say is repressive Chinese government rule.

The central government regularly blocks attempts to independently confirm state media reports of ethnic violence in Xinjiang. Uighur groups say police have used indiscriminate deadly force against people protesting the government’s policies in the region.