1997 Ürümqi bus bombings
| 1997 Ürümqi bus bombings | |
|---|---|
| Part of the Xinjiang conflict | |
 Location of Ürümqi in Xinjiang, China | |
| Location | Ürümqi, Xinjiang, China |
| Date | February 25, 1997 |
Attack type | Bus bombing |
| Deaths | 9 (including 3 children) |
| Injured | 28 |
| Perpetrators | Uyghur separatists |
On February 25, 1997, 3 bombs exploded on 3 buses (lines 2, 10, and 44) in Ürümqi, Xinjiang, China. 9 people were killed, including at least 3 children, and a further 28 were injured. Another 2 devices in the south railway station (the main station in Ürümqi) failed to explode. Steel balls, screws, and nails were found in the bombs.
Uyghur separatists had committed the bombings. Responsibility for the attacks was claimed and acknowledged by factions of certain diaspora Uyghurs.[1][2]
Background
Continuing tensions in Xinjiang have been a source of terrorism in China. Conflicts over Uyghur cultural aspirations resurfaced during the 1960s. In early February 1997, the execution of 30 suspected separatists[3] who had been involved in the organization of Meshrep[4] during Ramadan resulted in large demonstrations, culminating in the Gulja incident on February 5, where at least 9 protesters were killed.[5]
External reference
- 新疆遭遇的暴力恐怖事件(cn) Archived 2007-09-29 at the Wayback Machine
- 新疆曾遭遇暴力恐怖高峰(cn)
References
- ^ Lecturer in Modern Chinese History in the Department of East Asian Studies Michael Dillon; Michael Dillon (23 October 2003). Xinjiang: China's Muslim Far Northwest. Routledge. pp. 99–. ISBN 978-1-134-36096-3.
- ^ James A. Millward (2007). Eurasian Crossroads: A History of Xinjiang. Columbia University Press. pp. 333–. ISBN 978-0-231-13924-3.
- ^ 1997 Channel 4 (UK) news report on the incident which can be seen here
- ^ Amnesty International Document - "China: Remember the Gulja massacre? China's crackdown on peaceful protesters", Web Action WA 003/07 AI Index: ASA 17/002/2007, Start date: 01/02/2007 "China: Remember the Gulja massacre? China's crackdown on peaceful protesters". Retrieved 2013-05-05.
- ^ "China Uighurs executed", BBC News, 27 January 1998
