Top Stories
Armed cops step up patrols at city airport
By Zhao Yanrong (China Daily)
Updated: 2010-04-22 09:41
 |
Large Medium Small |
|
 Police patrol at the Beijing airport on Wednesday. Security at customs has been beefed up.[Zhao Yanrong / China Daily] |
Armed police officers started patrolling in Beijing Capital International Airport from Wednesday as Beijing prepares for an influx of arrivals due to the Shanghai World Expo.
A Beijing armed police unit, which has about 100 soldiers, had joined the 430 airport police officers to guard the three terminals during the Shanghai World Expo 24 hours every day.
Extra international flights will land in Beijing, China's largest airport, before heading for Shanghai.
"The airport sees more than 170,000 passengers every day, with about 43,000 international visitors," a female officer surnamed Li from the information department told METRO on Wednesday.
"Flights depart for Shanghai almost every 30 minutes from here, and we are expecting more passengers coming or stopping by in Beijing during the Expo."
The police will also randomly check passing vehicles, people and their belongings, using safety inspection tools and dogs.
"We will closely work with the armed police unit during the Shanghai World Expo, including patrolling by vehicles, foot patrols by non-uniformed officers, and armed patrols with dogs," said Zhang Zhi, deputy director of the Beijing airport police bureau.
Police have also started patrolling with dogs around the Dongzhimen Station, especially at the entrances of the subway's lines 2 and 13 at the station.
"We are trying our best to ensure a secure airport with a good public order during the coming global event," he said.
The bureau also cracked the largest theft case in the airport's history early this month, which involved about 300,000 yuan in cash, and have caught the leader of the gangsters.
"Terminal 3 at the airport is the major target of thieves because of its huge passenger volume, so please always keep eyes on your belongs and not carrying a large amount of cash while traveling," said Liu Jun, director of Beijing traffic police bureau.
Li Yang, a lawyer, takes flights at least twice every month. But she had mixed feelings about the upgraded security system.
"It sure is a good thing to have a much secure environment, especially when more people are coming to Beijing," Li, 28, said.
"But I am afraid it will take us much longer time to pass all check points, since many people like me are rushing to the airport everyday."
