China steps up security in top cities to avert terror attacks

Seeks international cooperation to fight terrorism

Seeking international cooperation to fight terrorism, China has launched a massive nation-wide security operation and deployed thousands of police personnel to avert terror attacks like the one in Kunming city which claimed 33 lives.

 

"Terrorism has no borders and China hopes for more international understanding and cooperation as it steps up anti-terrorism efforts," Fu Ying, the spokesperson of the National People's Congress (NPC) said today as the national legislature begins its sessions from tomorrow.

 

Condemning Saturday's attack in the south western city of Kunming in Yunnan Province in which a group of eight militants from Xinjiang hacked people with knives and machetes, Fu today sought international cooperation to fight terrorism.

 

The attack at the Kunming railway station claimed 33 lives and 143 people were injured.

 

Three militants, stated to be members of East Turkistan Islamic Movement (ETIM) were captured and another sustained injuries during the incident.

 

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang yesterday called for joint action by the international community to deal with terrorism, saying terrorists are the common enemy of all.

 

China has ramped up security and police patrols in all its major cities by deploying thousands police and security personnel in the wake of the Kunming Railway Station attack.

 

Police in Kunming, Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and other provincial capitals, including Xi'an, Shaanxi province, Changsha, Hunan province, have deployed more personnel at transport hubs and public areas such as shopping malls and schools, state-run China Daily reported.

 

In Beijing, where the annual two sessions of the National People's Congress and the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference are being held, security has been upgraded.

 

Beijing Communist Party chief Guo Jinlong and Mayor Wang Anshun held an emergency meeting after the attack and increased police presence at key areas in the capital, the municipal government said in a statement.

 

Jia Peng, spokesman for the Beijing Subway Company, which operates most of the capital's subway lines, said the company has tightened security checks on passengers.

 

"We have been ordered to strengthen security checks and increase coordination with police," he said.

 

Beijing Capital International Airport has urged passengers to arrive at the airport earlier than usual because heightened security checks will lengthen waiting time.

 

In Shanghai, armed police are patrolling railway stations, which have beefed up security checks at entrances. Police are also carrying out spot checks on passengers.

 

Police has expanded patrols at Guangzhou railway station.

 

There was heavy police presence at Kunming Railway Station two days after the attack, with armed officers patrolling ticket counters and security gates.