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Chinese police seek extradition of terrorists

By Cui Xiaohuo (China Daily)
Updated: 2008-10-22 06:55

Police Tuesday sought the arrest and extradition to China of eight alleged leaders and key members of a terror group accused of plotting attacks in the run-up to, and during, the Beijing Olympics.

Public Security Ministry spokesman Wu Heping said the Uygur men, all Chinese citizens, are believed to have financed, incited and attempted to carry out a series of terrorist activities to coincide with the Aug 8-24 Games.

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Wu said all eight belong to the East Turkistan Islamic Movement (ETIM), which was listed by the United Nations as a terrorist organization in 2002.

"From vigilance at the grass-roots level to active cooperation with the international community, we uncovered and thwarted all terror acts and helped host a safe Olympics," Wu told journalists.

According to Wu:

ETIM chief Memetiming Memeti allegedly ordered, in January, terror attacks targeting the Beijing Olympics. He dispatched terrorists to Chinese territory before the Games opened.

In June, he appeared in a video threatening deadly strikes against the Chinese government.

In this combo made from photos released on Tuesday, Oct 21, 2008 by China's Public Security Ministry showing 7 of the 8 Chinese nationals accused of plotting terror acts targeting the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.

ETIM military commander Emeti Yakuf is accused of heading recruitment, and organizing terrorist training. He allegedly worked out a detailed plan for attacks against the Olympics.

Two key ETIM members, Xiamisidingaihemaiti Abudumijiti and Aikemilai Wumaierjiang, had tried to bomb a "large market place where many Chinese business people gather" before the Games' opening ceremony.

Another, Yakuf Memeti, had targeted a big oil refinery, but was thwarted by tight security.

Other core members - Memetituersun Yiming, Memetituersun Abuduhalike and Tuersun Toheti - allegedly recruited members, raised funds, made explosives and poison, identified targets and plotted attacks in different countries in an attempt to disrupt the Games but their efforts were frustrated by Chinese police.

Wu did not give further details and did not answer questions.

The Chinese police said in August that they had busted 12 wings of transnational terrorist groups, destroyed 41 training bases, and arrested 18 terrorist members this year.

Wu called for global cooperation to track down the eight named yesterday and extradite them to China.

China hopes other governments will "further boost cooperation in exchanging intelligence information, extraditing and deporting terror suspects and severing sources of financing for terrorist activities", Wu said.

The ETIM, also called the East Turkistan Islamic Party, is believed to be one of the most dangerous terrorist organizations of the "East Turkistan" terrorist groups. It aims to split China and establish a theocratic "East Turkistan Islamic State" in Xinjiang.

Xinhua and agencies contributed to the story