PARIS, May 22  -- France on Thursday denounced the deadly attack that targeted an open air market in Urumqi, capital of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, a government official said.

During a daily e-press briefing, Foreign Ministry's spokesman Romain Nadal said Paris "extends condolences to the victims' families and friends."

"France expresses its solidarity with the government and Chinese people," he added.

Earlier in the day, an explosion rocked an open air market in Urumqi killing at least 31 people and 94 others were injured.