Three Uygur men, who disrupted prayers and attacked a security guard in the White Mosque in downtown Urumqi on July 13, were shot by a police patrol after they ignored a warning shot, said a recent report in the People's Daily.

The incident came days after a deadly riot in Urumqi, capital of China's far west Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, which had left 197 dead and 1,600 injured.

Rioters' attempts to incite Muslim worshippers to violence in the name of religion failed, Abdushukur Rehmutura, imam of the White Mosque, told the newspaper.

During a 2:30 p.m. prayer at the mosque on Jiefang South Road, a Uygur man about 40 suddenly stood up among the worshippers and tried to grab the imam's microphone.

The man retreated to his place after the imam refused to give in.

The prayer continued despite the interruption. Islamic codes of practice say worshippers should not hold private conversations or disrupt prayers, said the imam.

Only minutes later the man stood again and shouted: "Let's fight." From his clothing, he took a green, flag-shaped banner and screamed "Holy war! Holy war! Go with us."

The imam said he firmly refused the man's petition and decided to end the prayer session.

None of the worshippers showed any intention joining the man whom mosque manager Abliz Kurban and more than 10 security staff and worshippers tried to drive away.

Another two men beside the first man, who had brought into the mosque a big bag containing more than 20 knives hidden under a pile of socks, suddenly stood up next to him.

The three men each took out 60 cm knives and shouted at the worshippers: "Allah akbar! Go with us to holy war." They then brandished the knives at the worshippers.

The worshippers scattered, some running out the doorway and others into the basement.

The three men then broke a Uygur security guard's cellphone as he was trying to take their photographs. The men - still waving the knives - chased the security guard into the street outside, where they were told by a group of police patrolling the area to drop their weapons.

The police shot the men after a warning shot failed to stop their attack. Two men died on the spot and the other died of his wounds after being hospitalized.

Islam doctrines promoted peace and it was a precious virtue of the Muslims to bring peace to their counterparts, the imam said.