Clashes erupted in the troubled Xinjiang region of China on Tuesday leaving 21 people dead, including 15 police and other officials.
The incident occurred on Tuesday afternoon in Bachu county, Kashgar, a statement on the official Xinjiang government website said. It began when officials searched homes for weapons, it said. Six “gang members” were among the dead, it said.
A Xinhua report said “violent attacks” had caused deaths, but did not expand.
There have been sporadic clashes in Xinjiang in recent years amid rumbling ethnic tensions between the Muslim Uighur and Han Chinese communities. In 2009 almost 200 people were killed after deadly rioting erupted.
According to reports, local as well as foreign journalists face restrictions by China’s government while reporting from Xinjiang.
According to the official statement, the clash was sparked as officials described as community workers searched homes for weapons and were then taken hostage.
Eight other “gang members” were captured, it said. Ten of the officials and police killed were ethnic Uighurs, it said.