About 20 Uyghurs were killed in separate incidents in the cities in Kashghar and Hotan in the southern part of China’s Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, according to Istanbul’s daily Hürriyet newspaper.

“The violent incidents resulting in death and injuries have caused concern” read the statement from the Turkish ministry. “We give importance to the security, stability and peace of the people living in the region that we have historic and cultural ties to, that also forms a bridge of friendship between us and the People’s Republic of China.”

“We understand that the People’s Republic of China is conducting the necessary investigations. We hope that those responsible are brought to justice immediately, and that peace is brought to the region without tensions rising any further,” the Turkish ministry said.