Report: 16 police killed in China border attack

BEIJING - China's official Xinhua News Agency says an attack on a border patrol station on the country's frontier with Central Asia has killed 16 police officers.

The report says the assailants used a dump truck to ram their way into the paramilitary police station in Kashi and then tossed two hand grenades. Besides the dead, Xinhua says 16 officers were injured.

Xinhua, citing police, said two attackers were arrested. It did not identify them.

The area is home to a Muslim Turkic people, the Uighurs (WEE'-gurs). The Uighurs have waged a simmering rebellion against Chinese rule.

The attack comes four days before the opening of the Olympics in Beijing.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.

BEIJING (AP) — China's official Xinhua News Agency says an unknown group of people has attacked a border patrol station on the country's frontier with Central Asia, leaving dozens of police officers injured.

The report says the assailants drove two vehicles inside the paramilitary police station in the Kashi region Monday and then threw two grenades.

The brief Xinhua dispatch described the attackers as "rioters." The area is home to a Muslim Turkic people, the Uighurs (WEE'-gurs).

The Uighurs have waged a simmering rebellion against Chinese rule, with some drawn to the militant Islam that has buffeted Central Asia.

Original here