Beijing to test anti-terror mechanism prior to APEC meeting

(Xinhua) Updated: 2014-08-31 06:45

Policemen attend an anti-terrorism drill named "One-minute Handling" at the commercial district of Xidan in Beijing, Aug 29, 2014. [Photo/Xinhua]

Anti-terror drill in downtown Beijing

BEIJING - Beijing police will launch an eight-week secret inspection on anti-terror precautionary work to guarantee security for the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting scheduled to be held in Beijing in November.

The massive check-up on countermeasures includes management of hazardous articles, anti-terror training and publicity, grassroots lookout, to eliminate hidden perils, the Beijing Police said on Saturday.

Along with the inspection, the municipal police will also launch more anti-terror drills in bustling downtown areas without giving notice in advance. It has organized such drills in April and May.

The police has conducted the ninth anti-terror drill Friday night in 14 busy and populous areas including Beijing Railway Station, Wangfujing and Xidan business centers. One scenario set in Xidan was to rush to the scene within one minute to subdue two suspects and another knife-wielding and explosive-binding kidnapper.

The examination and drills are to test the anti-terror plans and improve anti-terror reactions, according to the Police.

A terror attack near Beijing's Tian'anmen Square in October 2013 shocked the country and the rest of the world. On Oct 28, 2013, Hasan, Gheni and Reyim drove a jeep into crowds near Tian'anmen Square, killing three innocent people and injuring 39 others. Three suspects died on the spot.

A year-long crackdown on terrorism was launched in China with Xinjiang as the major battleground after a terrorist attack on May 22 in an open market in the regional capital Urumqi. The attack, the deadliest in recent years in the region, killed 39 innocent people and injured 94 others.

With the theme of "Shaping the Future through Asia-Pacific Partnership", the 22nd APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting (AELM) will be held from Nov 10 to 11. It is Beijing's most important event since the 2008 Olympic Games. The main venue of the meeting is in the suburban district of Huairou.