UpdateSuspects behind Xinjiang attacks 'belonged to terrorist groups'

State media has issued details on the 81 people sentenced in Xinjiang on terror-related charges – nine of them to death – saying the bulk of them belonged to terrorist organisations and had committed murder and other violent crimes.

Xinjiang television said 68 people had been charged with organising, leading or participating in a terrorist organisation, along with murder, assault, arson, and making or transporting explosives and firearms. It said 13 others were charged with lesser crimes such as ethnic discrimination and distributing materials promoting ethnic hatred.

The 81 people were sentenced at six different courts in Xinjiang. Nine were sentenced to death and three were given suspended death sentences, which are typically commuted to life in prison.

The sentences, issued on Thursday, came amid a massive crackdown in Xinjiang after four high-profile attacks on civilians since October. The attacks have been blamed on the region’s Muslim ethnic-Uygur separatists seeking to overthrow Chinese rule and inspired by global jihadi ideology.

Television footage showed the accused standing before court officials in prison uniforms, their hands shackled and heads pressed down by officers behind them. Some were hooded as they left the courtroom. Evidence shown included samurai swords and what appeared to be rope fuses and other simple bomb-making materials.

Authorities say 23 extremist groups have been broken up, including a group of five allegedly plotting another bomb attack. Officials last week said 55 people charged with terrorism and other crimes were sentenced at a stadium in northern Xinjiang – including at least one sentenced to death.