The authorities said the group had watched video clips advocating religious extremism and terrorism, made explosives and prepared knives and banners for terrorist attacks. When community workers discovered these "knives and suspicious individuals" at a house in Bachu county, just outside the city of Kashgar, they were taken hostage by the gang, Xinhua said. Hesen then led others in stabbing or burning to death police and officials, while six members of his group were shot dead at the scene.