Pretoria – The South African Government has condemned the terrorist attack that killed dozens of civilians, on Monday morning, in Shache County, Kashgar Prefecture, northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.
“The South Africa Government condemns all forms and manner of terrorism. We believe that terrorism in any form and from whichever quarter cannot be condoned,” the Department of International Relations and Cooperation said.
A gang armed with knives and axes attacked a police station and government offices in Elixku Township, and some moved on to the nearby Huangdi Township, attacking civilians and smashing vehicles as they passed.
Dozens of Uygur and Han civilians were killed or injured, according to the local police.
Police officers at the scene shot dead dozens of members of the mob.
Thirty one cars were vandalized, including six, which were set on fire.
Initial investigations showed that it was an “organized and premeditated” terror attack, according to the local police. Further investigation is underway.
Shache witnessed another terror attack on December 30, 2013, when nine terrorists attacked a police station wielding knives. They threw explosives and set police cars on fire. Police shot dead eight terrorists.
On May 22, an attack on a market in Urumqi left 31 dead and 94 injured.
