Rioters kill 24 in Xinjiang

SHANSHAN COUNTY, Xinjiang - A total of 24 people have been killed by rioters in a violent terrorist attack in a remote town in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, Xinhua has learned.

The attack occurred at 5:50 am Wednesday in Lukqun Township in Shanshan County in the autonomous region's Turpan prefecture. Rioters killed 24 people, including two police officers.

Among the victims, 16 were from the Uygur ethnic group.

The rioters attacked the township's police stations, a local government building and a construction site, as well as set fire to police cars. Twenty-one police officers and civilians were injured.

The police shot and killed 11 rioters at the scene and captured another four who were injured.

Public security authorities are investigating the incident and local social order has been stabilized.