Beijing: Chinese state media say minority Muslim Uighurs (WEE'-gurz) deported from Thailand to China remain in detention while authorities investigate whether some planned to join the Islamic State or other groups in the Middle East.
State media also said some of the 109 Uighurs fought with Thai and Chinese police as they were being put on a flight back to China last month out of fear they would be executed.
The July 9 repatriations were heavily criticised by the U.N. refugee agency, the United States and others. In Turkey's capital, Istanbul, protesters ransacked the Thai Consulate.
The Global Times newspaper on Wednesday said many had planned to travel from Thailand to Turkey and may have ended up fighting in neighbouring Iraq or Syria. Police say they suspect 13 had terrorist links.
