A police roundup and execution of 30 suspected separatists during Ramadan resulted in large demonstrations in February 1997 , characterized as riots by Chinese media and peaceful by Western media . The demonstrations culminated in 5 February Ghulja incident , in which a People 's Liberation Army ( PLA ) crackdown led to at least nine deaths and possibly more than 100 . 25 February Ürümqi bus bombings killed nine people and injured 68 . Responsibility for the attacks was acknowledged by Uyghur exile groups
Ürümqi bus bombings
1997 Ürümqi bus bombings
Xinjiang conflict