Violent clashes in Xinjiang leave 21 dead.

Twenty-one people, including police officers and social workers, were killed in violent clashes yesterday, April 23, in the Xinjiang region of western China.

"Twenty-one people have died, including social workers and police officers," said an official surnamed Cao from the Xinjiang provincial information office.

Major clashes in Xinjiang on April 23 left 21 people dead - Photo: AFP

The government-run Tianshan Net reported that intense gunfire erupted in Bachu County, western Xinjiang, after local police raided the homes of several suspects believed to be in possession of weapons.

According to Tianshan Net, the 21 people killed included 6 members of a criminal gang and 15 social workers or police officers. Eleven of these 15 were from the Uighur ethnic minority.

Mr. Cao confirmed much of the information provided by Tianshan Net but added that authorities do not yet know exactly how many police officers were killed in the aforementioned clashes.

According to Tuoi Tre - DT