A crackdown on needle stabbings in Urumqi has life returning to normal in the capital of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

As armed police kept patrolling the streets, people are trying to go about their daily business as seen before the July 5 riots.

On one stretch of the Nanhu Plaza, more than 60 people, mainly senior citizens, were dancing to the tune of Paso Doble, while on another a father played badminton with his teenage son.

Dozens of other senior citizens were enjoying the serenity and angling on a pond at the other side of the plaza.

Traffic is nearly back to normal on the streets in Urumqi, with some buses again packed with passengers.

Financial establishments such as outlets of Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC), Agricultural Bank of China, and the Urumqi Commercial Bank were all open for business Monday.


Some schools in the city remained closed.

An official from the educational department of Urumqi city said kindergartens, primary and middle schools, as well as privately run schools, were told to stay closed.

Wang Lequan, secretary of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Regional Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), Sunday ordered more than 7,000 government officials to walk door-to-door in Urumqi to calm people after five people died and 14 were injured during riotous protests last week by people demanding that something be done to stop the stabbings.

Urumqi officials said at least 531 people had reported being stabbed with medical syringes as of Friday. Military medical staff examined 217 victims and found no signs of toxic or radioactive contamination, according to Xinhua.

Most of the victims were women and elderly residents, and the attacks were carried out in heavily populated public places with an aim to raise public concerns and fears, according to public security authorities.

Source:Global Times


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