|
CHINA> News
![]() |
|
Tests find no infections in needle attack victims
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-09-14 10:00 URUMQI: Tests of victims' samples found no dangerous viruses or chemicals involved in a string of bizarre hypodermic syringe stabbings in Urumqi, capital of China's far western Xinjiang region, a military medical expert said Sunday. Qian Jun, head of the disease control and biological security office with China's Academy of Military Medical Sciences, said the academy's Beijing lab found no needle injury samples were tainted with radioactive substances, toxic chemicals or HIV virus. The samples were not contaminated with other dangerous viruses or substances either, such as anthrax bacillus, yersinia pestis, francisella tularensis, brucella and botulinum toxin, Qian told a press briefing. Local and military medical experts have rechecked about 250 victims and found no clearly worsening wounds or serious illnesses, he noted. By Sept. 4, local authorities had confirmed 531 victims of hypodermic syringe stabbings in Urumqi, 171 of whom showed obvious syringe marks. The majority of the victims were of the Han ethnic group. Tens of thousands of angry and panic residents in Urumqi took to the streets last week, protesting against needle attacks and demanding security guarantees.
The Urumqi General Hospital affiliated to the Lanzhou Military Area Command has arranged three psychological experts and opened four counselling hotlines to help ease victims' fears and panic. Wang Wenxian, deputy director of the Urumqi municipal public security bureau, said the needle stabbings did not cause serious damages to the victims' health, but they caused public panic and disturbed social order. The acts violated China's Criminal Law and should be harshly punished accordingly, Wang told reporters. A court in Urumqi said three Uygurs were given jail terms ranging from seven to 15 years Saturday over syringe stabbings or threatening to use needle attacks for robbery. Wang added that more police and armed police forces would patrol on the city's streets and those who offer tip-offs for needle attackers would receive rewards. He also urged the attackers to surrender to the police, saying those who surrender or report others' crimes could receive lighter punishment. |
平罗县| 临城县| 凤山市| 乌苏市| 贡嘎县| 郸城县| 黎城县| 万盛区| 凤阳县| 尼勒克县| 富宁县| 青岛市| 青河县| 揭西县| 盐山县| 泸州市| 牡丹江市| 宝鸡市| 来安县| 元阳县| 抚松县| 遂溪县| 大化| 仙游县| 新龙县| 饶阳县| 瑞金市| 陕西省| 黄骅市| 新昌县| 惠州市| 横山县| 太仆寺旗| 莆田市| 麻城市| 盐津县| 天气| 太仓市| 三明市| 莱西市| 浠水县|