Chinese police officials shot dead four people who allegedly carried out an attack on a Communist party office in Karakax county, deep in southern Xinjiang's Uighur heartland, on Wednesday, the bloodiest reported attack in months in the region.

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According to state media, the four attackers drove up to a local party office in Moyu and set off an explosive that killed one person and injured three others.

The four attackers were then shot dead by police, although it is not clear whether they were killed at the scene or later that day, according to BBC.

A statement from local authorities, however, described the assault as a "terrorist attack." China tends to use the "terrorist" label for attacks mainly carried out by the Muslim majority Uighur tribe.

Xinjiang region is the homeland of the Uighurs, an ethnic minority that accuses Beijing of discriminating them and controlling their culture and religion. The area is often the center of violent anti-government unrest.

Exiled separatist Uighur groups such as the Eastern Turkestan Islamic movement are often accused by Chinese authorities of being behind the attacks in the region. However, overseas experts are skeptical of the groups' influence. Some are of the opinion that China tends to overestimate their powers as a justification for imposing tough security measures.

In November 2015, police authorities initiated a 56-day manhunt after an attack on a Colliery in Aksu killed 28 members of a "terror" group. China also banned in October Uighur parents and guardians from encouraging their children to take part of any religious activities. The government had also previously banned Muslim men from spotting beards, and women covering their heads in line with Islamic religious tradition.

Tagschina, Xianjiang, Asia, Uighurs