A large greenhouse containing plants being cultivated as part of a cloning project was deliberately destroyed, causing economic losses of 2.6 million yuan (US$313,000), reports Beijing Youth Daily.

The incident occurred at a facility run by Central China Agriculture University in Wuhan, capital of Hubei Province.

On Monday, around 80 migrant workers rushed into the greenhouse, which covered 2,184 square metres, and started pulling down the reinforcing bars supporting the structure. Staff members were taken unawares by the mob. Police are carrying out an investigation.

As many as 100,000 plants of 20 species, many of which were introduced from foreign countries at high cost, were destroyed in the attack.

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