FREE PODCAST An attack early Aug. 4 on a border police station in China’s Xinjiang province left 16 dead and another 16 injured, according to Chinese media reports. While reports have been conflicting, it appears that at least two individuals drove a truck into a border patrol armed police compound in Kashi (also known as Kashgar) at around 7:55 a.m. local time (though some reports say the incident occurred at 4 a.m.), threw two grenades — possibly into a barracks — and drove away. Shortly thereafter, the two were captured. The two armed men reportedly drove directly into a team of policemen who were jogging during morning exercises outside the police division before storming the building, attacking policemen with knives and then throwing the two grenades. The vehicle's collision into the joggers reportedly caused the bulk of the deaths and injuries. Given how far west Xinjiang is, the attack likely commenced before sunrise was complete, explaining the discrepancies in time reports. The attack comes less than a week before the Olympics kick off in Beijing, and follows a July 25 video release from the Turkistan Islamic Party (TIP) claiming several bombings and security incidents across China and warning of further attacks during the Olympics. While the TIP claims were exaggerated, the attack in Kashi appears to demonstrate that either TIP or those inspired by their message are capable of attacks. By its own admission, TIP is just one manifestation of a long-standing — though intermittent — Islamist militant Uighur independence movement that also has used the name East Turkistan Islamic Movement (ETIM). ETIM has been the focus of Chinese security warnings ahead of the Olympics for several years, and at Beijing’s request the United States has placed ETIM on its Terrorist Exclusion List. While there does not appear to be a large-scale Islamist Uighur insurgency challenging Beijing, smaller security threats exist, as the attack on the police station appears to demonstrate. Whether they can reach to Beijing, Qingdao, Hong Kong, Shanghai or the other Olympic cities is unclear, but Beijing is taking no chances. Reports from China cite a rather marked increase in security measures directed toward transportation, particularly buses. ETIM (and disgruntled Chinese, organized criminals and general troublemakers) previously have shown a predilection for targeting public transportation, particularly buses. Whether TIP has any more attacks planned or capable militants ready to strike, the psychological impact of the video warning followed by the attack in Xinjiang is going to stir further unease. This will only add to the mounting public relations problems the Chinese authorities are facing with what was once supposed to be their showcase event that increasingly is becoming Beijing's biggest headache.