An explosion hit a park in the regional capital of China’s western region of Xinjiang on Thursday morning, the official Xinhua news agency reported on Thursday.
#BREAKING: An #explosion occurred on Thursday morning at an open market in #Urumqi, capital of China’s #Xinjiang. pic.twitter.com/ccZZpAxpFl
— CCTVNEWS (@cctvnews) May 22, 2014
Two vehicles without license plates drove through roadside fences and plowed into people at an open air market at Gongyuanbei Street near Renmin Park at 7:50 a.m. and set off explosive devices, killing at least 31 people. More than 90 others were injured.
Flames and heavy smoke were seen and the scene was cordoned off.
#BREAKING: #Explosion occurred around 8 a.m. local time near a park in Urumqi, capital of China’s Xinjiang region. Casualties unknown.
— CCTV America (@CCTV_America) May 22, 2014
Chinese President Xi Jinping pledged to severely punish terrorists and spare no efforts in maintaining stability in response to Thursday morning’s fatal explosions in Urumqi.