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Police from the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region said on Sunday night that all 17 members of a terrorist cell that set off explosions in Aksu prefecture are either dead or have been arrested.

In a drive-by bombing using three motorcycles, the group threw explosive devices at a hair salon and a vegetable market in the seat of Xinhe county at about 6:40 pm on Friday. The regional government said after a 48-hour investigation that the terrorists were organized and that the attack was premeditated.

Police said a man named Ibrahim Qahar is the group's leader. They said Qahar has organized illegal religious activities and spread messages of religious extremism since May. It's unclear if Qahar was killed after the bombings or arrested.

Police also said the group made the explosives in a rented house. Immediately after the attack, six suspects were shot dead and six others died after the explosives they were carrying detonated. Five suspects have been arrested. One policeman was injured in the bombing.

The attack came just a week after Nur Bekri, chairman of the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, vowed to curb the spread of religious extremism and prevent violent terrorist attacks and mass incidents from occurring.

Zhang Chunxian, Party chief of the region, said on Jan 21 that Xinjiang officials must find a balance between respecting people's customs and striking hard against any violence in accordance with the law.

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