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Tiananmen Square protest death toll 'was 10,000'

Getty Images A burning APC on 4 June 1989 near Tiananmen SquareGetty Images
A burning armoured personnel carrier (APC) on 4 June 1989, near Tiananmen Square

The Chinese army crackdown on the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests killed at least 10,000 people, according to newly released UK documents.

The figure was given in a secret diplomatic cable from then British ambassador to China, Sir Alan Donald.

The original source was a friend of a member of China's State Council, the envoy says.

Previous estimates of the deaths in the pro-democracy protests ranged from several hundred to more than 1,000.

China's statement at the end of June 1989 said that 200 civilians and several dozen security personnel had died in Beijing following the suppression of "counter-revolutionary riots" on 4 June 1989.

Sir Alan's telegram is from 5 June, and he says his source was someone who "was passing on information given him by a close friend who is currently a member of the State Council".

The council is effectively China's ruling cabinet and is chaired by the premier.

AFP Student hunger strikers in Tiananmen Square on 14 May 1989AFP
Student hunger strikers in Tiananmen Square on 14 May 1989

The cables are held at the UK National Archives in London and were declassified in October, when they were seen by the HK01 news site.

Sir Alan said the source had been reliable in the past "and was careful to separate fact from speculation and rumour".

The envoy wrote: "Students understood they were given one hour to leave square but after five minutes APCs attacked.

"Students linked arms but were mown down including soldiers. APCs then ran over bodies time and time again to make 'pie' and remains collected by bulldozer. Remains incinerated and then hosed down drains.

"Four wounded girl students begged for their lives but were bayoneted."

Sir Alan added that "some members of the State Council considered that civil war is imminent".

The political protest had lasted seven weeks before the army was sent in and it was the largest such demonstration in Communist China's history.

The killings remain highly sensitive in China.

China bans all activists' commemorations and highly regulates online discussion of the incident, including censoring criticism. But it is marked annually by activists elsewhere in the world, particularly in Hong Kong and Taiwan.