BEIJING - Xinjiang police said they had shot dead eight terrorists and captured another one as they busted an "organized and premeditated" terrorist attack on early Monday morning.

Nine terrorists attacked a police station wielding knives at around 6:30 a.m. in Shache County of Kashgar. They also threw explosives and set police cars on fire, the public security bureau of Kashgar told Xinhua.

An initial probe showed the gang, led by Usman Barat and Abdugheni Abdukhadir, had gathered to watch terrorist videos and promote religious extremist ideas since August. They had also raised funds, made and tested explosives for planned terrorist attacks, the bureau said.

Police reported no casualties. They confiscated 25 explosives and nine knives at the site of the attack.

Local social order has returned to normal, according to police.

Earlier this month, police shot and killed 14 people during an attack near Kashgar in which two policemen were also killed.