Beijing police inspect gas stations amid anti-terror campaign

BEIJING - Beijing police began inspecting some 1,000 gas stations in the capital on Wednesday, the latest move to crack down on terrorism.

More than 100 inspection teams will check the safety of the stations as well as the management of oil products there, a police spokesperson told Xinhua.

The gas stations will be prohibited from refueling vehicles without license plates or those with their plate number covered, according to the spokesman. Special staff will be designated to look after gas pumps from which customers serve themselves, while motorcyclists and the handicapped will also have designated staff help them refuel their vehicles.

Customers are required to provide relevant papers issued by the local police department before purchasing bulk gasoline, and staff should not refuel vehicles before making sure that the vehicle's plate number is consistent with the number of the driving license.

Any stations found to have safety risks will be required to eradicate the problems, and those with serious security problems will be punished accordingly.

"Gas stations are where flammable and explosive materials are stored, and it is necessary to guarantee safety there," the spokesman said.

Beijing police have beefed up efforts to clamp down on terrorism in the wake of a series of bloody terrorist attacks in the country.

On Monday, Beijing police awarded 10,000 yuan (about $1,613) to a citizen for providing information on gasoline bootlegging in the capital's Daxing district.

Meanwhile, police are offering 50,000 yuan to those who provide tip-offs on illegal activities including printing books on extremism, selling knives banned by police, and making explosive devices.