Police in Shanghai say they've foiled a planned attack on the Olympics.

China correspondent Stephen McDonell reports that Chinese police have announced a so-called international terrorist group was planning an attack on a soccer match to be held in Shanghai as part of the Olympics.

The deputy director of the Shanghai Public Security Bureau, Cheng Jiulong, said a series of raids had cracked a group of terrorists.

He didn't say where the would-be attackers were from, or how many suspects had been detained.

Recently, Chinese Government officials have spoken of violent ethnic Uighur separatists groups trying to achieve an independent state in China's far West.

Human rights groups say the Chinese Government has exaggerating these threats but the Government says it's not taking any chances.

Shanghai is set to host 12 Olympic football matches during next month's games.

The stadium concerned is where the Olyroos will play the first of two matches for the Olympics.

The official Xinhua news agency says the venue has been closed since Sunday, with police conducting around-the-clock patrols.

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