China arrests 800 Muslims for illegally crossing border

More than 800 Chinese people planning to join a terrorist training camp were stopped at the China-Vietnam border, the South China Morning Post reported.

These people followed the recruitment drive of the East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM) which encourages foreign "jihadists".

According to Xinhua News Agency, ETIM is a separatist terrorist group established by Muslim Uyghurs in the Xinjiang autonomous region.

China's Ministry of Public Security issued a statement saying ETIM seeks to build an independent state in Xinjiang, propagates extremist religious views and incites people to leave the country and join the Jihad terrorist movement.

Chinese police arrest Xinjiang terrorist suspect (Photo: Xinhua)

Chinese police also said that those caught illegally crossing the border had watched many documents and videos about terrorist groups. Some were even accused of participating in terrorism and murder before trying to escape China.

However, Dilxat Rexit - spokesman for the World Uyghur Congress claimed that these indigenous people were 'forced to leave China', but they had absolutely no intention of joining extremist movements.

News in Chinese and Hong Kong media about border crossings and participation in terrorist training camps came after police in those countries shot dead two Uyghurs who were believed to be attempting to cross the border into Vietnam on January 18.

Chinese media say three Uighurs were stopped at a highway toll station in Pingxiang, Guangxi province. All three allegedly attacked police with knives.

According to Chinese media statistics, more than 200 people have died in conflicts and bombings related to unrest in the Xinjiang autonomous region.

Chinese authorities blame Uighur separatists for attacks on police and civilians.

China has also executed dozens of people believed to be perpetrators of terrorist attacks in Xinjiang and several other regions./.

According to Vov.vn