Urumqi police to reward tip-offs on terrorism

Authorities in Urumqi, capital of the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, said on Tuesday they will reward informants who report events or individuals connected with activities related to terrorism and religious extremism.

Rewards will range from 1,000 yuan to 50,000 yuan ($160 to $8,150), depending on the value of the information. The plan took effect on Sept 1, the city's police bureau said.

Police said rewards will be given to people who report the illegal production and sale of face-covering gowns and clothing that represent religious extremism, as well as for information on eight types of illegal activities related to terrorism and extremism.

People who prevent terror activities or physically subdue terrorists engaged in illegal activity will be given rewards from 200,000 yuan to as much as 1 million yuan.

People who provide information that help police arrest suspects and solve terror-related cases could be awarded 200,000 yuan.

Tips can be reported online, by calling the police hotline, 110, or by going directly to a police station or government department. Tip-givers can also send short messages to the police through WeChat.

Extremely important clues will be rewarded immediately while other tips will be appraised every three months.

A number of terrorist attacks have struck Xinjiang this year. On May 22, an attack at a market in Urumqi killed 39 people and injured 94, the deadliest terrorist attack in China since 2009. On April 30, a bomb attack killed two passengers at a railway station in the capital.

After the market attack on May 22, China began a yearlong anti-terror campaign, focusing primarily on Xinjiang. In June, police broke 32 terrorist groups and made more than 380 arrests.

Authorities in other regions of China have introduced informant-reward systems this year. In June, Yunnan province announced a 200,000 yuan reward to anyone who provides information that will prevent a terrorist attack.