It was a dramatic weekend in the relatively small city of Shishou in Hubei province.

Tens of thousands of rioters torched a hotel and overturned police cars, after the authorities allegedly tried to cover up the murder of a 24-year-old man as a suicide.

The deceased, Tu Yuangao, was the chef of the Yong Long hotel. According to the cops, he committed suicide by jumping off the roof of the building and left a note.

Witnesses said there was no blood on the scene and Tu’s body was already cold just after it hit the ground. His parents were surprised at the suicide note, since he was allegedly illiterate.

There are plenty of rumours flying around – that two other employees at the hotel had died in the same way, that the boss of the hotel is related to the mayor of Shishou, that the hotel was a centre for the local drug business and Yu was killed for threatening to expose what was going on. There’s also a rumour that three further bodies have been found at the hotel.

There are more details and photos here (EastWestNorthSouth).

Read more here:

Tens of thousands of Chinese fight the police in Shishou :: Malcolm Moore.

?

?

?

?

?

Be Sociable, Share!

•