In 2009, a series of bloody riots erupted in northwest China's Xinjiang Uyghur Autonmous Region's capital of Urumqi. They have since been followed by a series of terrorist incidents.

The violent riots broke out on July 5, 2009 in Urumqi, and lasted for several days. They began as a protest but escalated into violent attacks mainly targeting ethnic differences. About 200 people died, with some 17 hundred others injured and many vehicles and buildings destroyed.

They've been followed by a series of other terrorist events.

On July 18, 2011, a group of young Uyghur men stormed a police station in the city of Hotan. The men stabbed a police officer, took two female hostages, and killed another police officer with a bomb. The attack ended when local policemen shot and killed 14 of the attackers.

Several days later, on July 30, another terrorist attack happened in Kashgar. A group of men ran into a crowded street, and started stabbing people. 13 people were killed in that incident, with another 42 injured including three policemen.

On June 29, six men attempted to hijack Tianjin Airlines flight GS7554 from Hotan to Urumqi. There were no casualties among the passengers and crew.