Heavy casualties reported in Xinjiang terror attack  

新疆莎车县发生一起严重暴力恐袭案 击毙暴徒数十名

记者从新疆警方获悉：7月28日凌晨，新疆莎车县发生一起严重暴力恐怖袭击案件。一伙暴徒持刀斧袭击艾力西湖镇政府、派出所，并有部分暴徒窜至荒地镇，打砸焚烧过往车辆，砍杀无辜群众，造成数十名维汉族群众伤亡，31辆车被打砸，其中6辆车被烧。公安民警迅速依法处置，击毙暴徒数十名。[查看全文]

Dozens of civilians were killed or injured in a terrorist attack early on Monday morning in Shache County, Kashgar Prefecture, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, local police said.

A gang armed with knives and axes attacked a police station and government offices in Elixku Township, and some moved on to the nearby Huangdi Township, attacking civilians and smashing vehicles as they passed. Dozens of Uygur and Han civilians were killed or injured, according to the local police.

Police officers at the scene shot dead dozens of members of the mob.

Thirty one cars were vandalized,including 6 which were set on fire.

Initial investigation showed that it was an "organized and premeditated" terror attack, according to the local police. Further investigation is underway.

Shache witnessed another terror attack on December 30, 2013 when nine terrorists attacked a police station wielding knives. They threw explosives and set police cars on fire. Police shot dead eight terrorists.

On May 22, an attack on a market in Urumqi left 31 dead and 94 injured.