A total of 83 people have been arrested in connection with the rioting in the western region of Xinjiang in July, AP reported, citing state media. The arrests – on charges that include murder, arson, intentional injury and robbery – represent the first step in prosecuting those responsible for the violence in the Xinjiang capital of Urumqi, which saw members of the Uighur ethnic minority attack Han Chinese, leading to retribution attacks by Han Chinese. According to the government, 197 people were killed in the conflict and more than 1,700 injured. Chen Zhuangwei, Urumqi police chief, said 718 people had been detained on suspicion of participating in the riots, although earlier reports put the number of detainees at 1,600. Chen added that 2,169 photographs and 91 video clips were being used to identify rioters.
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