Thread by @BBCWorld

THREAD
 
China stands accused of locking up thousands of Muslims without trial in the western Xinjiang region.
 
The government denies this but a BBC investigation, months in the making, reveals the shocking reality.
 
@TheJohnSudworth investigates. bbc.in/2ytNBMY

We started with satellite images on Google Earth.
 
Take a look at this location, dated July 2015.
 
It's a patch of empty desert.

But less than three years later, this giant compound appeared.
 
Look closely and you'll see a 2km-long exterior wall and 16 guard towers.

Six months later, another satellite image showed it had gotten even bigger.
 
Was this the site of an enormous detention camp?
 
More here: bbc.in/2ytNBMY

We decided to take a closer look for ourselves and drove right up to the site.
 
We saw construction cranes and rows and rows of grey buildings, all four storeys high.

But before we could get any closer, we were stopped by police cars
 
told to turn off our cameras before being asked to leave.

bbc.in/2ytNBMY

Analysis of other satellite images suggested this was just one of many similar, large prison-type structures that have appeared across Xinjiang in recent years.

The Han'airike Legal Education Training Centre, located in southern Xinjiang.
 
(📸: @googleearth)

Uighurs who spent time in Xinjiang camps, and managed to flee, describe a harsh regime.
 
"Forced exercise, bullying, brainwashing and even beatings."

China's government has denied these claims.
 
They say people willingly attended special “vocational schools” which combat “terrorism and religious extremism”.

bbc.in/2ytNBMY

Read the full investigative report by @TheJohnSudworth here: bbc.in/2ytNBMY

Our TV report, from Xinjiang.
 
(Tap to expand)
 
bbc.in/2ytNBMY

This BBC shorthand visual journalism piece was produced by:
@ProducerKathy
@FinloRohrer
@benmilne