More zero-Covid protests in China after deadly lockdown fire in Xinjiang
- Public defiance of strict pandemic policy fanned by anger over deaths of 10 people in Urumqi, in China’s western Xinjiang region
- Many blame obstacles caused by zero-Covid measures for the tragedy, but officials have denied the allegations
Many protests could not be immediately confirmed, but in Shanghai, police used pepper spray to stop around 300 demonstrators who had gathered at Middle Urumqi Road at midnight.
The crowd brought flowers, candles and signs reading “Urumqi, November 24, those who died rest in peace” – to memorialise the 10 deaths caused by a fire in a block of flats in Xinjiang’s capital city Urumqi.
A protester who gave only his family name, Zhao, said one of his friends was beaten by police and two others were pepper sprayed. He said police stamped on his feet as he tried to stop them from taking his friend away. He lost his shoes in the process, and left the protest barefoot.
Zhao said the protesters shouted slogans including “[President] Xi Jinping, step down, Communist Party, step down”, “unlock Xinjiang, unlock China”, “do not want PCR [tests], want freedom” and “press freedom”.
Around 100 police stood in lines, preventing some protesters from gathering or leaving, and buses carrying more police arrived later, Zhao said.