Rioters attack Chinese police station, 4 killed

2011-07-18 20:58:40 GMT+7 (ICT)

BEIJING, CHINA (BNO NEWS) -- At least four people were killed when a group of rioters who attacked a Chinese police station were gunned down, state-run media reported in a brief dispatch on Monday.

At around 12 p.m. local time, a group of rioters broke into a police station in the city of Hotan in China's northwestern Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, attacking police officers, taking hostages, and setting fires in the area, the state-run Xinhua news agency reported.

Police counterattacked rioters in response, opening fire and shooting several rioters. Six people being held hostage were successfully freed. However, as a result of the incident, China's Ministry of Public Security said a police officer, security personnel, and two hostages lost their lives during the incident.

At least one other security personnel was seriously injured as well, while the China's national counter-terrorism office deployed a security team in Xinjiang. Other details were not released.

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2011-07-18

Incomplete news report, as expected from Chinese sources, which are as tightly bound as the feet of their great grandmothers.

I wouldn't doubt that the protesters had mighty strong grievances - to take such dynamic action against their local police station. Don't expect the real reason from the Chinese press corps (an oxymoron?).

Expect iron-fisted retaliation by Chinese forces - as that's the only style of response they know (as opposed to fair-minded investigation in to what prompted such strong action, or what human rights were trampled, etc).