A week after Beijing authorities began scanning bags at three
subway stations, security workers have deterred nine passengers
carrying firecrackers, knives and inflammable chemicals, security
workers said on Saturday.
Last Monday, two days before the eve of the Lunar Chinese New
Year, a man carrying a cardboard box was seen trying to make his
way into the downtown Dongzhimen subway station. He was denied
entry after the newly installed X-ray detected firecrackers in the
box.
Another passenger carrying fireworks was detected by a sniffer
dog at the same station on Wednesday, said a spokesman with the
public transport arm of Beijing Public Security Bureau.
He said more than 5,000 passengers had undergone security checks
at the first three subway stations where security checks had been
launched for a trial operation, namely Dongzhimen, Xizhimen and
Datun, the site of the Olympic village.
Operators of Beijing subway said they plan to have all 90
stations equipped with security-checking facilities to guarantee
security during the summer Olympics.
City authorities said the move was necessary in the Beijing
subway, whose daily passenger throughput exceeds 3 million.
Passengers trying to carry inflammable chemical or explosives onto
subway trains are detected almost daily.
(Xinhua News Agency February 9, 2008)