Xijiang riot suspects trials to be held next month

Beijing, July 31 (ANI): The trials of suspects involved in the deadly July 5 riot in Urumqi are expected to start the middle of August, a source told the China Daily Thursday.

The Urumqi Intermediate People's Court has been preparing for the hearings, according to the source.

Authorities have arrested 253 more suspects in connection with the riot in the capital of Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region. About 1,400 were detained earlier, according to police.

The police have not said how many of the detainees were released after being investigated.

The riot left 197 dead and 1,700 injured, the source said.

Several panels have already been set up in preparation for the trials, reported the Beijing-based Legal Daily, which is overseen by the Ministry of Justice. (ANI)