Spanish gov't condemns attack in China's Xinjiang

A member of the security forces directs journalists and locals away from the scene where earlier today a bomb attack took place, in Kashgar August 4, 2008. Chinese police said a bomb attack that killed 16 police in the restive western Xinjiang region on Monday was a "suspected terrorist" attack, four days ahead of the Beijing Olympic Games, state media reported. (Photo/Reuters)

MADRID, Aug. 4 (Xinhua) - The Spanish government has expressed "its strongest condemnation over the sever attack" Monday in Kashiin northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region that killed at least 16 policemen.

In a communique released by the Foreign Ministry Monday, the Spanish government expressed "its support for and gave it condolences to the relatives of the victims, and also expressed is completely sympathy with the Chinese government and people."

Spain also stressed its "radical condemnation to terrorism in all of it kinds."

Terrorist plot was suspected in the violent attack targeting border police in China's west most city of Kashi, 1,400 km southwest of Xinjiang's capital Urumqi.

The attack, which also injured 16 people, occurred in the front of the Yiquan Hotel, which is nearly 200 meters away from the Kashi border armed police division.

The police investigation found that two attackers drove a tip lorry to hit a team of policemen who were jogging to pass the hotel in a regular morning exercise at about 8 a.m..

The suspects then got off the lorry to throw explosive and hack the policemen with knives, after the vehicle veered to knock on a roadside wire pole, said the Kashi police. Fourteen policemen were killed on the spot and two others died on the way to hospital.