The government in Xinjiang struggled to contain escalating unrest on Friday as thousands of people confronted police in Urumqi, the regional capital, accusing the government of incompetence in maintaining public safety.
Five people have been confirmed dead and 14 others injured and admitted to hospital after protests the day before, Zhang Hong, the city’s deputy mayor, said.
The protests, which grew in number and intensity for a third consecutive day, come at a sensitive time for Beijing as the Communist party seeks to reaffirm the legitimacy of its rule, with celebrations of the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China on October 1.
Xinhua, the official news agency, reported from Urumqi that more than 1,000 demonstrators had confronted police near Communist party headquarters and that security forces had dispersed the crowds with teargas. According to AFP reports, protesters threw plastic bottles at police.
Witnesses said crowds were trying to break through police lines to storm districts where many ethnic Uighurs live.
An Urumqi-based businessman said police had closed all roads into the city.