incident incident civil disturbance took place overnight june china violent dispute erupted han workers toy factory result allegations sexual assault han female groups han set workers leading killed workers witnessed incident report dead wounded people injured event widely cited trigger event july riots ostensibly started peaceful street protest demanding official action died following trials october person executed sentenced terms life imprisonment seven years background factory incident took place early light toy factory owned hong_kong based largest toy manufacturer world company factory district employs workers behest authorities hired workers ethnic program relocated young start according guardian workers sign year contract travel factory south addition salaries ranging month free board lodging away home work time said authorities initiated controversial plan ship workers factories amid continuing labour shortages young workers families charged forced send children south lack basic chinese language skills find difficult fit dominant han culture new_york_times quoted saying percent young signed employment voluntarily residents families refuse threatened fines months worth income official charge ethnic religious affairs said province hired aged small group arrived workers factory remarked relations groups deteriorated number increased state media confirmed workers reported workers factory employed earned day compared factory noted rights workers han alike frequently violated verbal abuse factory unpaid overtime poor dormitory conditions illegal labour contracts executive director said low pay long hours poor working conditions combined inability communicate colleagues exacerbated deeply held han causes events overnight june tensions factory leading blown ethnic brawl han result fighting died people injured seriously injured police anti riot vehicles official sources state rioting began reports lasted police arrived initial disturbance reported security guards responded help female worker felt intimidated chanting male dozen han workers armed metal rods responded called backup phones maintained attacks started night shift han stormed started amateur videos posted online showed brutal attacks han chasing floors man said saw security overwhelmed arrival outside gangs said common knowledge outsiders brought han witnesses interviewed foreign press thought casualties understated authorities han claimed killed seven cited assaults rioting stopped soon police arrived policeman explained delay arriving scene difficulties assembling officers dead men later named rape rumours rioting sparked allegations sexual assault han women rumours incident female han workers sexually assaulted workers factory according authorities said rumours false initiated worker said man faked information express discontent failing find new work job factory responses police said investigations found evidence rape taken place government spokesman called ordinary incident said exaggerated unrest guardian reported video riots photographs victims quickly circulated internet exile groups claims death toll reported police slow act protests assembled email reported authorities arrested people suspected having spread rumours online alleged sexual assault han women taken place addition reported july suspects taken custody following incident quoted year old saying angry turned job june toy factory posted article forum june alleged boys raped innocent girls detained writing online chat space june people died factory fight vice director said offenders face days administrative detention july released interview han girl alleged rape triggered disturbances year old rural worked factory months said lost entered wrong dormitory saw young men room felt turned ran recounted stood stamped feet chase later realized making fun said found hours later cause violence authorities moved workers temporary accommodation workers transferred july facility belonging early light away town factory reported sporting facilities serving food round clock staff clinic plain clothed police officers midst according staff apparently unable mix colleagues previous location language barrier local shop worker estimated spoke months found willing talk events night authorities claims workers granted requests following violence contested workers deputy secretary led working team june member responsible security reportedly visited early september august reported chinese police arrested chef arabic restaurant claimed confessed agent allegedly spread rumours later pretext trigger riots july alleged fabricated report factory brawl caused death people including females sent mail trial october intermediate people court sentenced death principal violence given life sentence people sentenced seven years assault day jailed han workers participating brawl sentenced seven years imprisonment
Shaoguan incident