Suspect in Lhasa riot confesses slashing innocent passerby

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Source: CCTV.com | 04-14-2008 08:54

Lhasa police say a suspect in last month's riots has confessed slashing innocent passers-by with a knife. The man claims to have been incited by others and has expressed remorse for his actions.

The man claims to have been incited by others and has expressed remorse for his actions.

32-year-old Gungqug Toinzhub was the Number 2 suspect on the most wanted list of Lhasa's police for his part in the March 14 riots. The police caught him in the Ramogia Monastery in Lhasa on April 6.

The suspect told CCTV that others incited him to slash passers-by and he is now remorseful.

An eyewitness said the suspect holding a knife in his hand... took the lead in attacking innocent people, and would have hurt others if another Tibetan man had not stopped him. The knife the suspect used was 30 centimeters long. And the police also say he had lived in Nepal for over a year after crossing the border illegally in 2000.

A Lhasa police officer said, "The evidence shows the suspect was coerced not committing his crimes and he himself says so. But, regardless he has broken the law."

Police in Tibet have detained nearly 1,000 people suspected of participating in the March 14 violence in Lhasa.

Police in Tibet have detained nearly 1,000 people suspected of participating in the March 14 violence in Lhasa.

And about 200 suspects engaged in beating, smashing, looting and burning in the riots have surrounded to the authorities.

The police have 90 people on their most wanted list, and have already arrested 13. And they say they will increase their efforts to search for the others. This will help restore local life to normal.

Editor:Zhang Ning