A terrorist attack in Urumqi, capital of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, left at least 31 dead and 94 injured on May 22, according to local authorities.

Two vehicles without license plates broke through roadside fences and plowed into crowds at an open air market at Park North Street near Renmin Park at 7:50 a.m. and explosive devices were set off, a statement issued by the regional government revealed.

In response to the attack, Chinese President Xi Jinping pledged to severely punish terrorists and spare no efforts in maintaining stability.

Xi asked local authorities to solve the case quickly, put the injured under proper care and offer condolences to the families of the victims.

All injured were rushed to hospitals. The regional government has launched an emergency response system and organized medical efforts for treatment of the injured, said the statement.

Witnesses who saw the two off-road vehicles drive into people from the south end of the market. Explosives were thrown before the vehicles exploded.

Many of the injured were elderly people who frequently visited the morning market, according to witnesses.

A business owner in the market told Xinhua News Agency that he heard a dozen large explosions.