A violent clash between suspected terrorists and authorities in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region left 21 people dead, including 15 community workers and police officers and six suspects, local authorities said on April 24.

The attacks happened on April 23 in Bachu County, Kashgar Prefecture, some 1,200 km southwest of Urumqi, regional capital of Xinjiang.

Three community workers phoned supervisors to report suspicious individuals and knives in a local residence, but were subsequently kidnapped by hidden occupants.

Suspects killed the three community workers and several police officers and township officials who rushed to the scene, and burned the building before armed reinforcements arrived to bring the situation under control.

Eight terror suspects were captured and further investigations are underway.