Recently, based on careful investigation, public security authorities of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region successfully unearthed two terrorist groups that were plotting to sabotage the Beijing Olympics. Explosive devices and tools of offense were seized and a certain number of criminal suspects were arrested.

I. Unearthing the Terrorist Group of Aji Muhammat

From 4 to 11 January 2008, according to the instruction and plan of the Ministry of Public Security of PRC, the Xinjiang public security authorities successfully cracked terrorists who were sent by the East Turkistan Islamic Movement (ETIM) to China to plot against the Beijing Olympics. A total of ten heads and key members of the terrorist group, including Aji Muhammat, were arrested. In the operation, public security authorities raided and destroyed three terrorist cells and one cell that was used for the experiment and manufacturing of explosives and toxicants. A total of 18 explosive devices, 4 kilograms of gunpowder, 7 detonators, 100 kilograms of nine types of raw materials for making explosives, 13 types of manufacturing devices of explosives and toxicants including funnel, measuring cylinder and electronic scale were seized. Also, 3 cars, 2 computers, 3 CD burners, RMB 16,000 Yuan of activity funds and a mass of "Jihad" training materials were seized. Aji Muhammat and others confessed everything.

According to earlier police investigation, at the end of last year, the head of overseas ETIM issued an order instructing Aji Muhammat, who had been sent to China, to be ready to launch terrorist attacks against the Beijing Olympics. It also asked other members to put hotels that receive foreigners as guests, government buildings and military bases under surveillance, do trial runs using "poisoned meat", "poisoned gas" and remote control explosive devices as soon as possible, and it made clear the specific time, target and means of sabotage activities. Also, all members of the terrorist group were required to commit suicide when caught and condemn the police to the same fate. In order to ensure the security of life and property of the general public and prevent these criminals from posing a threat to the public, public security authorities of Xinjiang, with full evidence at hand, decided to crack down the terrorist group. At the moment, only a handful of criminal suspects were still at large, and key members have been arrested and brought to justice.

Investigation indicated that this terrorist group, under the direct instruction of ETIM heads, had secretly recruited members in China. After receiving terrorist trainings abroad, these members sneaked back to China. They tried all means to raise money to purchase explosive materials and had already conducted 13 test explosions in China. According to the instruction of ETIM, the group was supposed to make preparations for a terrorist attack before April 2008, and it schemed to start terrorist attacks in Beijing and Shanghai this May, using toxicants and explosives to wreck the Olympics.

II. Unearthing the Terrorist Group of Abdul Rehman Tuerxun

From 26 March to 6 April 2008, according to the instruction of Ministry of Public Security, public security authorities of Xinjiang successfully cracked down the terrorist group, headed by Abdul Rehman Tuerxun, aimed at sabotaging the Beijing Olympics. Abdu Rehman Tuerxun, Ku'erban Mutalipu and another 35 criminal suspects were arrested. A total of 9.51 kilograms of explosives, 8 detonators, 2 explosive devices and some "Jihadist" materials were seized.

Investigation indicated that this terrorist group had conspired in November 2007 to kidnap foreign journalists, visitors and athletes during the Beijing Olympics, so as to create international effects and undermine the Games. In early March this year, heads of this terrorist ring including Abdul secretly recruited members in areas of Yili, Kashgar, Kezhou and Urumqi of Xinjiang, collected various types of explosives, recruited technicians to manufacture guns and explosives and scouted around for personnels who were willing to sacrifice for "Jihad". They made all efforts to manufacture explosive devices in order to carry out terrorist attacks, including suicide bombings in Urumqi and other cities in the inner part of China. With a view to eliminating the damage that they could bring about, the public security authorities decided to break up the terrorist group after obtaining sufficient evidence on their criminal activities.

As narrated above, it is clearly shown that right now, East Turkistan terrorist forces in and outside China, with ETIM standing at the head, have been actively plotting and implementing terrorist activities in order to sabotage the 2008 Beijing Olympics. China is facing a real terrorist threat.

The successful unearthing of the two terrorist rings once again proves that public security authorities of China are fully prepared to protect the life and property of the general public and to take up security responsibilities during Olympics. With the support of the whole society and the public, and through the implementation of detailed security measures, the Chinese law enforcements are fully capable of defeating all types of terrorist activities.