Police forces and state security agencies had prevented five organized terrorist attacks on civilians in China's far west Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China's anti-terrorism sources said Monday.

Separatist "East Turkestan" terrorists both at home and abroad had been plotting attacks against civilians since the July 5 riot that left 197 dead and more than 1,600 injured in Urumqi, capital of Xinjiang.

The recent attempted attacks would have "damaged social stability and ethnic unity", the sources said.

Police forces and state security authorities had successively crushed five organized terrorist plots in Urumqi, Kashgar, Aksu and Ili in Xinjiang.

Anti-terrorism agencies had captured "a group of suspects involved in the terrorist activities" but the number of people arrested was not given.

Also confiscated were "guns, controlled knifes, explosives and materials advocating violence and terrorism." Further details were kept under wraps.

The crackdown on terrorist activities had effectively safeguarded the country's security and stability, and protected the people's life and property safety, the sources said.

(Xinhua News Agency August 3, 2009)