Terrorist attack kills 31, injures 94 at Urumqi market

An attack on a market in Urumqi that left at least 31 dead and 94 injured on Thursday morning was an act of terror, according to authorities. Two vehicles, without license plates, broke through roadside fences and plowed into people at an open-air market at Gongyuanbei Street near Renmin Park at 7:50 a.m. and explosive devices were set off, said a statement by the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region's publicity department. Witnesses said explosives were thrown before the vehicles blew up. A breakfast vendor told Xinhua he saw the two SUVs heading into the street at a high speed and hitting people at random. "Four senior citizens were run over and killed in front of me," the vendor said. A vegetable seller said the cars were weaving randomly. "The cars went passed near my stall, an old man near us was hit and I was feared for my life," said the seller. Many of the injured were elderly people who frequent the morning market. A jogger told how he saw flags on the vehicles, with a white background and black characters which "seemed like Uygur writing". The cars stopped at the end of the street and the bombs were set off. An aquatic products shop near the first blast had all its windows broken. The boss of the shop said the first car stopped because pedestrians it had felled and vendors' carts blocked its way. "Two minutes later, the car exploded," the boss said. A supermarket manager said that a lot of people had rushed to her store to hide. "People were screaming and crying. There was blood on some of them. It was horrible," she said. A business owner in the market told Xinhua he heard a dozen big bangs. Most shops along the street remained closed and few pedestrians were seen during the day. Police continue to investigate the area. In response to the attack, Chinese President Xi Jinping has pledged to severely punish the terrorists and spare no effort in maintaining stability. Xi ordered the police to step up patrols and security control over possible terrorist targets and prevent ripple effects. He also asked local authorities to solve the case fast, put the injured under proper care and offer condolences to families of the victims. He urged hard strike on violence and terrorists so as to safeguard social stability. Premier Li Keqiang, meanwhile, called on authorities to step up safety measures and eliminate weak points in public security, to protect people's lives and properties. A task force by Public Security Minister Guo Shengkun has gone to Xinjiang to assist the investigation. The regional government has launched an emergency response to treat the injured.