DHAKA: Fifty people died in violence on Sunday in Xinjiang, Chinese state media said, in what police called a "serious terrorist attack".

Earlier this week state media reported the incident in Luntai county but gave the death toll as two.

On Thursday a state news portal said 40 "rioters", six civilians and four police officers were killed. No reason was given for the delay in reporting, reports BB.

Violence has been escalating in Xinjiang in recent months.

The region in China's far west is home to the Muslim Uighur minority group. Tensions exist between the Uighur community and the Han Chinese.

BDST: 1306 HRS, SEP 26, 2014