Ethnic Clashes in China Kill 27

Mob attacks on police stations in northwest region

Twenty-seven people died in mob attacks on police stations and other buildings in China's Muslim northwest Wednesday in the latest deadly incident to undermine Beijing's claims of harmonious ethnic relations.

Attackers in a province where people have lashed out at China controls in the past stabbed several police and security officials and set police cars on fire Wednesday, according to state news agency Xinhua.

Nine members of police and security forces were killed in Lukqun, a remote township in Turpan prefecture in the resource-rich region of Xinjiang Eight civilians died as well and officers then shot and killed 10 of the alleged assailants, Xinhua said.