Explosions, rifle fire reported in north-west China (1st Lead)

Olympics 2008 News

Aug 9, 2008, 22:07 GMT

Beijing - Several explosions and sporadic rifle fire were reported in Kuqa in the north-western Chinese region of Xinjiang, the Xinhua news agency reported on Sunday. The explosions occurred between 3:20 am and 4 am local time, and the military had responded to the blasts and cordoned off the area, Xinhua reported. A foreigner in Kuqa told Deutsche Presse-Agentur dpa via telephone that before the first explosion a jet flew over the city. He said there were nearly 20 strong explosions and flashes of light were visible, but no fire or smoke. 'The rifle fire began a half hour after the first explosion,' the witness told dpa. It was followed within minutes by explosions. The cause of the explosion was unknown. Xinjiang region is known for unrest and is home to 8 million Muslim Uighurs. China has identified independence-seeking Uighur groups from its central Asian region of Xinjiang as the biggest potential terrorist threat during the Olympics. The government has accused Uighur groups of separatism and terrorism in the past. Kuqa is a county of 400,000 in Aksu prefecture, about 740 kilometres from regional capital, Urumqi.

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