Beijing conducts anti-terror exercises

Source: Xinhua  |   2008-12-15  |     NEWSPAPER EDITION

BEIJING armed police conducted an anti-terror drill on Saturday to strengthen defences against militant attacks, such as the one that hit Mumbai last month.

The drill imagined a group of terrorists had attacked the city with a series of bombs and then kidnapped hostages at a hotel.

Members of the Beijing Special Armed Police Unit swung down from a helicopter on ropes and shot targets. After breaking through windows, police were able to rescue hostages.

"The drill was aimed at preventing terrorist attacks, especially after the Mumbai attack," said Xiao Yong, the head of the unit. "There, terrorists attacked different sites of the city in different ways, using explosions, shootings and kidnappings.

"We have conducted thorough research on different kinds of attacks and made a complete and cohesive counter-terrorism plan."

Members of the BSAPU are carefully selected and specially trained. They are each armed with an array of weapons and equipment worth more than 300,000 yuan (US$43,795).