Urumqi bus bombs
Encyclopedia
Three bombs exploded in Ürümqi
, Xinjiang
, China
at 18h30 February 25, 1997.
The bombs were set on the three buses (line 10, line 44, and line 2). Nine people were killed including at least three children. A further 74 were injured.
Another bomb in the south railway station (the main station in Urumqi) did not explode.
Steel balls, screws, and nails were found in the bombs.
. Conflicts over Uyghur
cultural aspirations resurfaced during the 1960s. In early February 1997 the execution of 30 suspected separatists who had been involved in the organisation of Meshrep
during Ramadan
resulted in large demonstrations, which culminated in the Gulja incident on the 5th of February, in which at least 9 protesters were killed.
Ürümqi
Ürümqi , formerly Tihwa , is the capital of Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of the People's Republic of China, in the northwest of the country....
, Xinjiang
Xinjiang
Xinjiang is an autonomous region of the People's Republic of China. It is the largest Chinese administrative division and spans over 1.6 million km2...
, China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
at 18h30 February 25, 1997.
The bombs were set on the three buses (line 10, line 44, and line 2). Nine people were killed including at least three children. A further 74 were injured.
Another bomb in the south railway station (the main station in Urumqi) did not explode.
Steel balls, screws, and nails were found in the bombs.
Background
Continuing tensions in Xinjiang have been a source of terrorism in ChinaTerrorism in China
Terrorism in China often involves Muslim separatist militants in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region and other locations with large Muslim populations...
. Conflicts over Uyghur
Uyghur people
The Uyghur are a Turkic ethnic group living in Eastern and Central Asia. Today, Uyghurs live primarily in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region in the People's Republic of China...
cultural aspirations resurfaced during the 1960s. In early February 1997 the execution of 30 suspected separatists who had been involved in the organisation of Meshrep
Meshrep
A meshrep is a traditional male Uyghur gathering that typically includes "poetry, music, dance, and conversation within a structural context". Meshreps typically include music of the Muqam variety and ad-hoc tribunals on moral questions. "Meshrep" may also refer to the Islamic youth groups that...
during Ramadan
Ramadan
Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, which lasts 29 or 30 days. It is the Islamic month of fasting, in which participating Muslims refrain from eating, drinking, smoking and sex during daylight hours and is intended to teach Muslims about patience, spirituality, humility and...
resulted in large demonstrations, which culminated in the Gulja incident on the 5th of February, in which at least 9 protesters were killed.