http://china.notspecial.org/archives/2007/01/chinas_alqaeda.html


China admits fear of Muslim terror as police kill 18 in mountain battle

Jane Macartney in Beijing
10 January 2007
The Times

China revealed the depth of its fear of Islamic-linked
violence yesterday when police disclosed that they had
killed 18 terrorists and captured another 17 after a
fierce battle at a secret training camp in a remote
northwestern region.

It was the first time that China had announced the
discovery of such a camp in its territory. Officials
said that they had uncovered links between the
activists and international terrorist groups, hinting
at connections to al-Qaeda.

The clash in the Pamir mountains on Friday was one of
the deadliest for years in the restive Xinjiang Uighur
autonomous region, where 8.5 million Muslims make up
most of the population. One policeman was killed and a
second wounded.

Police said that the camp, in Akto county, was run by
the East Turkestan Islamic Movement (Etim). It is
listed as a terrorist group by the US, at China's
insistence, despite concerns among Beijing-based
diplomats over lack of evidence.