Foxconn riot shuts down China factory for a day

A riot between workers at Foxconn's Taiyuan factory in northwest China has caused the company to temporarily shut down operations there for a day.

According to Reuters, a personal dispute between several Foxconn employees broke out into a riot late Sunday night. The riot involved 2,000 workers and 40 were sent to hospital for medical attention, the report noted.

Citing Foxconn, the report said the personal dispute in a privately-managed dormitory escalated at around 11 p.m. on Sunday. However, local police brought the situation under control at around 3 a.m, the company said.

"The cause of this dispute is under investigation by local authorities and we are working closely with them in this process, but it appears not to have been work-related," Foxconn said.

Local news site Sohu Finance said the riot involved Foxconn employees and security guards. While the actual reason for the riot was unknown, rumors suggest it started because a security guard had beat up an employee which caused the dissatisfaction of other employees, the news site said.

Chinese news site Sohu IT included photos of the riot from early morning which showed broken windows of the dormitory, campus supermarket and bus.

Reuters noted that the Taiyuan plant employs about 79,000 workers and makes automobile electronic components, consumer electronic components and precision moldings. The news agency learned from an employee that the plant also makes parts and assembles Apple's iPhone 5.