- News>
- World
Xinjiang terrorists suspected of plotting attack on US Embassy
Beijing, Aug 30: An Islamic group that wants independence for China`s northwestern Xinjiang region is suspected of plotting to attack embassies in the neighboring nation of Kyrgyzstan, a US Embassy spokesman said today.
Beijing, Aug 30: An Islamic group that wants
independence for China's northwestern Xinjiang region is
suspected of plotting to attack embassies in the neighboring
nation of Kyrgyzstan, a US Embassy spokesman said today.
The spokesman told the Washington post this week that one target was the us embassy in Bishkek, the Kyrgyz capital. However, the embassy said today it couldn't confirm that or give any details about the targets ``because of security issues.'' The Islamic group - called the east Turkestan Islamic movement, or Etim - was recently placed on the US list of terrorist organizations. China blames the group for nearly 200 deaths during the 1990s, though foreign scholars and diplomats say many of the killings weren't separatist-related.
The US Embassy spokesman said Kyrgyzstan deported two Etim members to China in May. They were accused of ``planning to target embassies in Bishkek, as well as trade Centres and public gathering places,'' he said on condition on anonymity.
One suspect was Mamet Yasyn, who was allegedly traveling on a false passport and had surveillance information about Embassy sites, said a us embassy spokeswoman, who also spoke on condition of anonymity. The spokeswoman, who did not have the name of the second suspect, would not provide further details.
The Islamic group wants independence for Xinjiang, also called east Turkistan. The dominant ethnic group in the rugged, sparsely populated region is the Muslim, Turkic-speaking Uighur people.
US Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage said this week in Beijing that, after ``careful study,'' Washington has placed the Islamic group on the terrorist list.
Bureau Report
The spokesman told the Washington post this week that one target was the us embassy in Bishkek, the Kyrgyz capital. However, the embassy said today it couldn't confirm that or give any details about the targets ``because of security issues.'' The Islamic group - called the east Turkestan Islamic movement, or Etim - was recently placed on the US list of terrorist organizations. China blames the group for nearly 200 deaths during the 1990s, though foreign scholars and diplomats say many of the killings weren't separatist-related.
The US Embassy spokesman said Kyrgyzstan deported two Etim members to China in May. They were accused of ``planning to target embassies in Bishkek, as well as trade Centres and public gathering places,'' he said on condition on anonymity.
One suspect was Mamet Yasyn, who was allegedly traveling on a false passport and had surveillance information about Embassy sites, said a us embassy spokeswoman, who also spoke on condition of anonymity. The spokeswoman, who did not have the name of the second suspect, would not provide further details.
The Islamic group wants independence for Xinjiang, also called east Turkistan. The dominant ethnic group in the rugged, sparsely populated region is the Muslim, Turkic-speaking Uighur people.
US Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage said this week in Beijing that, after ``careful study,'' Washington has placed the Islamic group on the terrorist list.
Bureau Report