Thirteen people have been arrested on Thursday for alleged assault on a traffic police detachment in Shenzhen of the southern Guangdong Province in an incident sparked by the death of a motorcyclist, according to a press release.

The 13 people, five of whom have prison or labor education records for robbery or theft, had no connection with the victim or his relatives. Their conduct, throwing stones at police and their offices and burning a police car, broke the law, said the press release.

They were detained on the second day after the incident, and charges will be laid later, said the release.

No further details, as to how many police were hurt in the turmoil, were available yet.

The traffic police station in Shiyan sub-district in Bao'an District was besieged by more than 400 residents from the afternoon of Nov. 7 to early next morning. Their attack was sparked by the death of 31-year-old Li Guochao, who tried to break through a checkpoint set up to catch vehicles used illegally.

A check station worker surnamed Lai from the sub-district office has been arrested. He was seen throwing his intercom at Li in an effort to stop him. The latter then lost control of his motorcycle, crashed into a lamppost and died.

(Xinhua News Agency November 28, 2008)