Tourists visit the main worship hall in Yonghe Gong, the biggest Tibetan Buddhist Lama Temple in Beijing January 18, 2009. The temple, known to have many undercover police on the premise, is still widely visited by Chinese and tourists despite the problems facing Tibetans. Ahead of the politically sensitive 50th anniversary of the Dalai Lama's flight into exile and the crushing of the Tibetan rebellion, China has told Tibet to celebrate the event as a liberation from feudalism. (UPI Photo/Stephen Shaver) | License Photo

A Chinese woman kneels and prays in front of one of several Buddha worship halls in Yonghe Gong, the biggest Tibetan Buddhist Lama Temple in Beijing January 18, 2009. The temple, known to have many undercover police on the premise, is still widely visited by Chinese and tourists despite the problems facing Tibetans. Ahead of the politically sensitive 50th anniversary of the Dalai Lama's flight into exile and the crushing of the Tibetan rebellion, China has told Tibet to celebrate the event as a liberation from feudalism. (UPI Photo/Stephen Shaver) | License Photo

A Han Chinese monk walks through a courtyard in Yonghe Gong, the biggest Tibetan Buddhist Lama Temple in Beijing January 18, 2009. The temple, known to have many undercover police on the premise, is still widely visited by Chinese and tourists despite the problems facing Tibetans. Ahead of the politically sensitive 50th anniversary of the Dalai Lama's flight into exile and the crushing of the Tibetan rebellion, China has told Tibet to celebrate the event as a liberation from feudalism. (UPI Photo/Stephen Shaver) | License Photo

A Han Chinese monk walks through a walkway in Yonghe Gong, the biggest Tibetan Buddhist Lama Temple in Beijing January 18, 2009. The temple, known to have many undercover police on the premise, is still widely visited by Chinese and tourists despite the problems facing Tibetans. Ahead of the politically sensitive 50th anniversary of the Dalai Lama's flight into exile and the crushing of the Tibetan rebellion, China has told Tibet to celebrate the event as a liberation from feudalism. (UPI Photo/Stephen Shaver) | License Photo

Chinese kneel and pray in one of several Buddha worship halls in Yonghe Gong, the biggest Tibetan Buddhist Lama Temple in Beijing January 18, 2009. The temple, known to have many undercover police on the premise, is still widely visited by Chinese and tourists despite the problems facing Tibetans. Ahead of the politically sensitive 50th anniversary of the Dalai Lama's flight into exile and the crushing of the Tibetan rebellion, China has told Tibet to celebrate the event as a liberation from feudalism. (UPI Photo/Stephen Shaver) | License Photo

A Chinese man prays in front of an urn on fire outside one of several Buddha worship halls in Yonghe Gong, the biggest Tibetan Buddhist Lama Temple in Beijing January 18, 2009. The temple, known to have many undercover police on the premise, is still widely visited by Chinese and tourists despite the problems facing Tibetans. Ahead of the politically sensitive 50th anniversary of the Dalai Lama's flight into exile and the crushing of the Tibetan rebellion, China has told Tibet to celebrate the event as a liberation from feudalism. (UPI Photo/Stephen Shaver) | License Photo

Young Chinese light joss sticks, or incense, before praying in front of one of several Buddha worship halls in Yonghe Gong, the biggest Tibetan Buddhist Lama Temple in Beijing January 18, 2009. The temple, known to have many undercover police on the premise, is still widely visited by Chinese and tourists despite the problems facing Tibetans. Ahead of the politically sensitive 50th anniversary of the Dalai Lama's flight into exile and the crushing of the Tibetan rebellion, China has told Tibet to celebrate the event as a liberation from feudalism. (UPI Photo/Stephen Shaver) | License Photo

Han Chinese monks walk through a courtyard in Yonghe Gong, the biggest Tibetan Buddhist Lama Temple in Beijing January 18, 2009. The temple, known to have many undercover police on the premise, is still widely visited by Chinese and tourists despite the problems facing Tibetans. Ahead of the politically sensitive 50th anniversary of the Dalai Lama's flight into exile and the crushing of the Tibetan rebellion, China has told Tibet to celebrate the event as a liberation from feudalism. (UPI Photo/Stephen Shaver) | License Photo

Chinese kneel and pray in one of several Buddha worship halls in Yonghe Gong, the biggest Tibetan Buddhist Lama Temple in Beijing January 18, 2009. The temple, known to have many undercover police on the premise, is still widely visited by Chinese and tourists despite the problems facing Tibetans. Ahead of the politically sensitive 50th anniversary of the Dalai Lama's flight into exile and the crushing of the Tibetan rebellion, China has told Tibet to celebrate the event as a liberation from feudalism. (UPI Photo/Stephen Shaver) | License Photo

BEIJING, March 9 (UPI) -- China has tightened security in the Tibetan region as people there prepare to mark the 50th anniversary of a failed uprising against Beijing.

A police car and a fire engine were damaged when crowds threw homemade bombs during a protest Monday, The Times of London reported. There were no reports of casualties.


Although Tibet technically is autonomous, its current government is directed from Beijing. The Dalai Lama, Tibetan Buddhists' spiritual and political leader, lives in exile in India. Tuesday commemorates a failed 1959 rebellion that sent the Dalai Lama into exile.

"We have made due deployment and tightened controls at border ports, and key areas and passages along the border in Tibet," Fu Hongyu, an official with China's Ministry of Public Safety Border Control Department, said.

"We will firmly crack down on criminal activities in Tibet's border area that pose a threat to China's sovereignty and government."

Monday's violence occurred in western Qinghai province, China's state-run news agency, Xinhua, reported. The incident began when security officers stopped and searched a truck, resulting in a confrontation that drew onlookers who eventually joined the dispute, Xinhua said.