This is a very worrying development indeed. Story below from Xinhua, but Austin and other reporters have seen mobs of Chinese in the streets of Urumqi up to a thousand strong armed with staves and shovels, out for revenge. I’ve seen these sort of race riots before and at this point it is up to the security forces to lay down a shoot-on-sight curfew. Will they shoot fellow Han? If they don’t restore order very soon it will get very ugly indeed.
Fresh chaos erupt in Urumqi
Chaos were seen in a number of places in Urumqi Tuesday afternoon, nearly two days after the deadly violence.
Many people were gathering or running in panic at the Urumqi South Railway Station, Changjiang Road, Yangzijiang Road and some other places at around 1 p.m..
Roadside shops were shut down.
Residents of some community compounds are holding wood and iron clubs for self-defence.
“We will not hide up anymore. We will fight back if they (the rioters) come,” said an unnamed man standing in front of a building in Shihezi.
Crowds of people rushed in the municipal people’s hospital in downtown Urumqi to take shelter. Many nurses were trying to call their relatives by cell phones to ensure they are safe.
People who were gathering at Hetian Street for defence threw stones at Xinhua reporters before knowing their identity.