Three buildings in Urumqi owned and lived in by the family of exiled Uighur activist Rebiya Kadeer are to be demolished as reports of syringe attacks in the city continue, Reuters reports:
The government ordered shops and businesses in central Urumqi to close early on Monday, giving rise to a wave of rumours of new unrest among citizens panicked by mysterious needle attacks.
Police received another 77 reports of needle attacks between Sunday evening and Monday evening, despite threatened punishments for both attackers and rumour-mongerers, Xinhua said. A Han Chinese crowd also tried to beat up a Uighur on Monday after another alleged needle attack.
[…] The Akida Trade Center, a building full of Uighur shops owned by the Akida Industry and Trade Co founded by Kadeer, were slated for demolition due to cracks in the walls and sunken footings, Xinhua said, confirming a report on Aug. 19 by the Uyghur American Association.
More than 30 members of Kadeer’s family, including siblings, children and grandchildren, had been living on upper floors of the building, the UAA said.
