3 killed, 79 injured in terror attack in China's Xinjiang

Three persons were today killed and 79 others injured in a "violent terrorist attack" at a railway station in Urumqi, capital of China's Muslim-majority Xinjiang province, as President Xi Jinping wrapped up his first-ever visit to the troubled region, vowing to fight terrorism.
In a daring attack, knife-wielding mobs slashed people at the exit of the South Railway Station of Urumqi and set off explosives, state-run Xinhua news agency reported, citing initial investigation.
Three persons were killed and 79 others injured.
The attack this evening was similar to the knife attacks carried by East Turkistan Islamic Movement (ETIM) from Xinjiang at the Kunming railway station in March in which 33 people were killed and 143 injured.

ETIM is fighting for the independence of Xinjiang from China.
Xinjiang was restive for the past several years due to ethnic conflict between native Muslim Uygurs and Han Chienese settlers.

Xi, who was in Urmuqi on the last day of his four-day tour - the first after he took over as President last year - called for "decisive actions" against violent terrorist attacks.
"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.
He demanded profound awareness of the Xinjiang separatist forces and noted that the anti-separatism battle in Xinjiang is long-term, complicated and acute.

Also, Xi has ordered all-out efforts of local authorities to rescue and treat the injured as well as prompt investigation to solve the case and punish the criminals.
The social stability should be properly ensured, Xi said, adding that measures should be taken to safeguard the security of people of all ethnic groups and the order of their normal life and work.
The serious terrorist attack occurred at around 7:10 pm, with an explosion in the area between the station exit and a bus stop on BRT route 1.
Some luggage and damaged motorcycles were left at the scene.
A vendor told Xinhua that he heard two huge sounds of blast. "The explosion was so powerful that I thought it was an earthquake," another man said.

Resource-rich Xinjiang has witnessed a spurt in attacks by Islamic militants in recent years as province experienced ethnic tensions between native Uygur Muslims and Han Chinese settlers from other provinces.