Urumqi (China), July 7 (Xinhua) Internet connectivity was cut in parts of Xinjiang’s capital Urumqi following Sunday’s riot to prevent violence from spreading, an official said Tuesday.
“We cut Internet connection in some areas of Urumqi in order to prevent violence from spreading to other places,” said Li Zhi, the Communist Party of China (CPC) chief of Urumqi.
Li said Chinese authorities had evidence that World Uighur Congress leader Rebiya Kadeer used the Internet and other means of communication to mastermind the riot.
He didn’t say when connectivity would be resumed.
Xinjiang police said Monday they had evidence that Kadeer masterminded Sunday’s riot.
Over 150 people have died and more than 1,400 people have been arrested following the riots.
More than 1,000 people were also injured in the riots that began Sunday evening in Urumqi, the provincial capital, following a protest rally by Uighurs. They were demonstrating against the death of two Uighur workers in a brawl in a toy factory in Guangdong province June 26.
