The monks from the Tongxia monastery fled after the homemade bomb exploded at the building in Gyanbe township on March 23, Xinhua said.

It did not mention any casualties or damage in the explosion.

The Gongjue county Public Security Bureau confirmed that nine suspects had been detained -- six for planting the bomb and three for shielding the suspects.

The attack was the first alleged bombing reported in Tibet since anti-China protests began March 10 in the capital, Lhasa.