This man -- the imam of China's largest mosque, the Id Kah-- was reportedly attacked after he led early morning prayers on Wednesday.

Juma Tayir was killed in the city of Kashgar in Xinjiang by three suspected Islamist militants armed with knives and axes.

Two of the attackers were shot dead by police while the third was arrested.

This attack comes just days after dozens of knife-wielding suspects were killed after they attacked a police station and government offices in this same region.