Three policemen attacked in NW China's Xinjiang

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-03-31 20:50

URUMQI -- Investigation is underway after three policemen were allegedly injured by a man after a quarrel between the two sides in Urumqi, capital of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region on Monday, police told Xinhua on Tuesday.

The three plain clothes officers in an unmarked car were transporting a drug addict, also a suspect thief, when they were stopped at 9:00 p.m. on a downtown road by a man surnamed Dai.

Dai was crossing the road against traffic regulations and refused to make way for police's vehicle even though the police officers sounded the car horns to warn him and deliberately walked slowly on the road, said an officer with Urumqi city public security bureau.

When the car stopped two meters from Dai, a quarrel broke out and Dai hit a policeman through an open car window, the officer said.

The policemen got out of the car and told Dai they were police and they were doing their job. But Dai allegedly hit one policeman on the head with a piece of brick.

The quarrel attracted more than 200 passersby, blocking the traffic.

Another group of police on patrol came and tried to take Dai away, but were prevented by the crowd, police said.

Dai's wife arrived with a few family members and kicked and pulled the door of the car. Police persuaded the crowd to leave and traffic resumed at around 10:40 p.m..

The policemen who was hit on the head had been taken to hospital and the other two were slightly injured. The car was damaged.

No one had been detained as police were still investigating the incident, the officer said, without giving more details.