2015 Aksu colliery attack

Terrorist attack in Xinjiang, China the Xinjiang conflict 2015 Aksu colliery attack File:Location of Baicheng within Xinjiang (China).png Location of Baicheng County (red) in Aksu Prefecture (yellow) and Xinjiang Baicheng County, Aksu Prefecture, Xinjiang, China 41 10 N 80 15 E region:CN-65 inline 18 September 2015 Knife attack 16 (per Xinjiang Daily)China: 28 'terrorists' killed in Xinjiang operation https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2015/11/china-28-terrorists-killed-xinjiang-operation-151120045600089.html Al Jazeera 6 September 2020The Fight Against Terrorism and Extremism and Human Rights Protection in Xinjiang http://english.scio.gov.cn/2019-03/19/content_74585093_4.htm 30 November 2022 50 (Per Radio Free Asia)Death Toll in Xinjiang Coal Mine Attack Climbs to 50 https://www.rfa.org/english/news/uyghur/attack-09302015174319.html 31 December 2022 Radio Free Asia 30 September 2015 18 (per Xinjiang Daily) 50 (Per Radio Free Asia) Xinjiang separatists 29 Aksu coal mine workers The 2015 Aksu colliery attack, also known as the Baicheng incident,China's propaganda wing puts spotlight on terror crackdown in the wake of Paris attacks https://www.scmp.com/news/china/policies-politics/article/1881890/chinas-propaganda-wing-puts-spotlight-terror-crackdown SCMP took place on 18 September 2015 in China, when a group of separatists, suspected to be Uyghurs,At least 50 reported to have died in attack on coalmine in Xinjiang in September https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/oct/01/at-least-50-reported-dead-in-september-attack-as-china-celebrates-xinjiang 7 September 2020 The Guardian 1 October 2015 attacked workers and security guards at a coal mine in Baicheng County in Aksu, Xinjiang, leaving at least 16 dead and 18 wounded according to government sources, with other estimates reaching as high as 50 dead and 50 wounded. When local police arrived at the scene, the attackers rammed the police vehicles with stolen trucks before fleeing into the mountains. The majority of the victims of the attack were members of the Han ethnic group.Blanchard Ben At least 50 said killed in September Xinjiang attack as China warns on security https://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-xinjiang-idUSKCN0RV38020151001 6 September 2020 Reuters 1 October 2015 Background The attack was reported as China was celebrating the 60th anniversary of the incorporation of Xinjiang into China and the subsequent establishment of the autonomous region. During the celebrations, Yu Zhengsheng, who was then the Chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, made a statement advocating that troops in the region should play a bigger role in fighting separatism, terrorism and extremism. Xinjiang has seen frequent attacks in past years by members of the Uyghur ethnic group in Xinjiang. The Chinese government states that this is due to foreign-backed Islamic terrorism for the violence. Attack The attack on the coal mine occurred at night. The attackers, wielding knives, first attacked security guards before targeting the miners, many of whom were sleeping in their dormitory beds. They then stole trucks and rammed police vehicles that had arrived at the scene, before fleeing into the mountains, and reportedly stole firearms from police.Chen Andrea Flamethrower used to flush out militants in China's Xinjiang region, says state media https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy-defence/article/1881961/flamethrower-used-flush-out-militants-chinas-xinjiang SCMP 23 November 2015 7 September 2020 Chinese media initially reported 16 dead, but according to local sources, at least 50 people were killed, including five police officers. Authorities kept news of the attack from spreading until mid-November, while local media was slow to report on it. Some local officials even denied that the attack ever took place.Jacobs Andrew In a Region Disturbed by Ethnic Tensions, China Keeps Tight Lid on a Massacre https://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/19/world/asia/in-a-region-disturbed-by-ethnic-tensions-china-keeps-tight-lid-on-a-massacre.html 7 September 2020 New York Times 18 October 2015 Manhunt Following the attack, Chinese authorities kept a tight lid on coverage of the coal mine attack, and Baicheng County was locked down. The Chinese government launched a manhunt for the attackers lasting 56 days. The operation involved helicopters, armored vehicles, and 10,000 people including local volunteers. At one point, authorities used flash grenades and tear gas to try to force a number of suspects out of a cliff-side cave and, when this failed, used flamethrowers, forcing them out before gunning them down.China forces used flamethrower to hunt Xinjiang 'terrorists': army newspaper https://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-security-xinjiang/china-forces-used-flamethrower-to-hunt-xinjiang-terrorists-army-newspaper-idUSKBN0TC0QT20151123 Reuters 23 November 2015 The manhunt concluded with a total of 28 assailants killed; one member of the group surrendered after being urged to do so by his grandfather according to authorities. A senior police official, Memet Tohtinyaz, was reported killed while pursuing the suspects.https://www.refworld.org/docid/56c31eedc.html Refworld | China: Three police officers are added to death toll in operation following Xinjiang coal mine attack Dilxat Raxit, spokesman for the main exiled group the World Uyghur Congress, claimed that the dead included women and children, though these claims could not be verified. According to Xinjiang Daily, the assailants were commanded by a foreign extremist group. References Category:Knife attacks in China Category:Massacres in China Category:2015 murders in China Category:Mass stabbings in China Category:21st-century mass murders in China Category:Massacres in 2015 Category:September 2015 in China Category:Military operations involving incendiary weapons Category:Stabbing attacks in 2015 Category:Coal mining disasters in China Category:2015 mining disasters