An attack on a police patrol near the city of Kashgar in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region has left two dead and five injured, Xinhua news agency reported on Friday. The report said the attack took place at 9:20 PM on August 27.

According to sources from the Public Security Department of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, the officers had been engaged in an investigation in Jiashi County, which is administered from the Kashgar, China's most westerly city, when they were surprised by knife-wielding attackers who had been hiding in a corn field.

Of the two dead, one was a police officer and the other was civilian employee of the police force. The five injured are being treated in a local hospital.

The attackers were arrested. Police are investigating their identities and the motive for the attack.

On August 4, 16 police officers were killed and 16 others injured when two attackers drove a dumper truck into a group of officers who were jogging in front of a hotel in Kashgar.

(China.org.cn August 29, 2008)