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Police drill to tackle Mumbai-style attack

(Agencies/China Daily)
Updated: 2008-12-15 07:42

Crack Beijing police conducted an anti-terror drill at a local hotel on Saturday to boost response capabilities against Mumbai-style militant attacks, State media reported.

Members of the Beijing Special Armed Police Unit take part in an anti-terrorist drill in Beijing, December 13, 2008. [Xinhua]

Members of the Beijing Special Armed Police Unit dropped from helicopters and broke through windows to rescue "hostages" in the hotel, Xinhua News Agency said.

"They then shot swaying eggs targets 15 m away and did it within 1.5 seconds to practice shooting terrorists," Xiao Yong, the head of the unit said.

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"The drill was aimed at preventing terrorist attacks, especially after the Mumbai attack, which had definite targets and careful planning."

Gunmen in Mumbai killed 179 people in a series of raids on targets, including luxury hotels. China's security experts have closely examined the way in which the Mumbai terrorists had attacked different sites using different methods.

The weekend's police exercises focused on saving hostages and overpowering gunmen, Xiao said.

China and India held an anti-terrorism exercise earlier last week in a show of cooperation between Asia's two biggest nations.

On Thursday, China's top police officer asked for tightened anti-terrorism measures in the wake of the attacks in Mumbai, while Chinese and Indian troops continued their anti-terror drills.

Meng Jianzhu, minister of public security, said the nation should be on high alert for potential terrorist threats, particularly from the Eastern Turkistan Islamic Movement (ETIM) in the country's northwestern region.

The ETIM was identified by the United Nations as a terrorist organization in 2002.

He said the recent attacks in Mumbai again provided clear evidence that terrorist forces are still active in areas surrounding China.

Meng also urged the public to be more aware of terrorist threats and warned primary and middle schools to teach students more about anti-terrorism procedures.