[5] In response to both concern over the attacks[6] and dissatisfaction over the government's slowness in prosecuting people involved with the July riots, protesters took to the streets.

According to the Foreign Correspondent's Club of China, the reporters were punched and kicked by the police, then detained face-down on the ground with their hands tied behind their backs for up to 20 minutes.

[15] The Xinjiang authorities blamed the journalists for inciting the disturbance, saying they were "not acting appropriately, for example gesturing to the crowd";[15] they however, regretted the "alleged beating".

[18] Hong Kong politicians were united in their outrage over the incident,[17] and the apparent violation of press freedom, which was a core value[18] enshrined in the Basic Law.

[17] Seven local National People's Congress deputies wrote to NPC chairman Wu Bangguo to express their concern.

[15] Legislators from the Establishment camp as well as the pan-democrats regarded the incitement allegations "unpersuasive", and said Beijing must launch a full and detailed inquiry into the beatings.

[19] On 13 September 2009, about 700 people including Hong Kong journalists and politicians marched on local offices of China's central government to protest the alleged police beatings of the three reporters.