Assailant apologises for Xinjiang axe attack

A teenager from Hotan in southern Xinjiang Autonomous Region has apologized in an exclusive interview with China Central Television (CCTV) Sunday for attacking people with an axe.

Murzahti, 19, entered a games room in Hotan June 14 intent on attacking innocent people, Xinhua reported.

His two accomplices Abduzahir and Abdughappar died from serious injuries after civilians fought back. Abduzahir was allegedly the ringleader.

Murzahti, who holds temporary jobs, told CCTV that Abduzahir said to him "those who wage a holy war and die for it will not be judged after his death and will go directly to heaven".

He said Abduzahir told him to hack at whoever he saw.

CCTV showed video footage of Murzahti waving an axe towards a woman in the games room.

Murzahti told CCTV that he and his accomplices surveyed the games room from the outside for about 90 seconds before staging the attack. "We thought it was an easy target to kill and run," he said.

"I was scared when people fought back. I didn't expect them to fight back. They hit us with desks and chairs in the room," he added.

"When we tried to run, more people ran towards us with sticks. I thought we had no chance to escape."

The three kept hacking at people with their axes but were eventually brought under control by police and members of the public.

Abduzahir and Abdughappar died in hospital after treatment failed.

Murzahti told CCTV he was sorry for carrying out the attack.