China has deployed an elite police counter-terrorism unit to the restive northwest region of Xinjiang after a series of deadly attacks there, state media reported on Saturday. The Snow Leopard Commando unit is expected to carry out “anti-terrorist missions” in Kashgar and Hotan, which were hit by the recent violence, the China Daily newspaper quoted a spokesman for the region’s police force as saying.
The unit is an elite counter-terrorism group under the People’s Armed Force whose responsibilities include riot control and bomb disposal as well as reacting to hijacks.
