3 sentenced to death in China attack that killed 31

KUNMING, China, Sept. 12 (UPI) -- Three men were sentenced to death Friday for their roles in a train station terrorist attack that killed 31 people in Kunming, China, in March.

The men were convicted in a one-day trial in Kunming Municipal Intermediate People's Court of homicide and of organizing and leading a terrorist organization, although they were not participants in the attack. A fourth defendant was shown leniency because she is pregnant and received a life sentence.

Although the issue was not highlighted in testimony, the four defendants have names suggesting they are members of the Uighur minority in western China's Xinjiang region, a traditionally Muslim group.

There have been several incidents of violence in the area; the Chinese government claims a small number of Uighurs are practicing terrorism in hope of seeing Xinjiang independent of China.

The attack in March was in a train station, a knife assault that left 140 people injured. The incident reinforced the possibility of domestic terrorism to many Chinese citizens. Prior attacks in the area were concentrated on police stations and other government buildings.