China Jittery Over Olympic Terror Threat

Airlines Say Beijing To Halt Flights During Olympic Opener; Authorities Issue Anti-Terror Guide

(AP)  Remain calm, don't fight back and try to send a text message to the police.

That's how Chinese police have advised people to respond if captured by terrorists during next month's Olympic Games, the official Xinhua News Agency said Friday.

The new "anti-terrorism manual" is the latest in a string of warnings issued by an increasingly jittery Chinese government in the run-up to the Aug. 8-24 Olympics. In addition to worries over foreign terrorist plots, Beijing is also concerned about political protests from domestic critics.

China says it fears an attack by Islamic insurgents in the restive western province of Xinjiang, as well as from Tibetans it says who want to split China — fears brought to the fore by violent riots that erupted in Tibet's capital of Lhasa in March.

A vast security apparatus has been charged with guarding Beijing during the games, including thousands of soldiers, police and anti-terrorist squads. The government has also declared a "people's war" against those who could disrupt the games, enlisting the help of neighborhood watch groups to root out threats.

Xinhua said the manual described potential terrorism threats, including explosions, shootings, hijacking and even chemical or nuclear attacks. It was not clear when the manual, written in Chinese, would be published, or how it would be distributed. China has already repeatedly said that a terrorist attack is one of the biggest worries for the games.

The manual follows a series guides China has published to tell its people how to behave during the games. A training manual for thousands of volunteers working the Beijing Olympics and Paralympics was released in May, on everything from handling visitors to sitting, standing and shaking hands. Campaigns have also been launched to get citizens to form lines in public places stop spitting and improve their driving habits.

China has already installed checkpoints on roads and subway stations around the capital, as well as areas which border Hebei province.

Reflecting China's fears that an attack is possible, Chinese authorities will close Beijing's airport for about five hours during the opening ceremony of the Olympics, affecting dozens of flights, local media and airlines said Friday.

But a spokesman from the airport denied the reports, saying they welcomed all flights to Beijing. He didn't give his name, as is customary among Chinese officials.

Hong Kong-based Cathay Pacific said it would postpone one flight after receiving word that the airport would be closed during the ceremony, set to begin at the auspicious time of 8 p.m. on Aug. 8.

Cathay Pacific spokeswoman Carolyn Leung in Hong Kong said she was informed that Beijing Capital International Airport would be closed from 7 p.m. to midnight on Aug. 8.

A customer service spokesman of Olympic sponsor, Air China, said the airline had also received a notice that the airport would be closed.

Separately, authorities arrested over 1,600 people in Hong Kong, Macau and the southern province of Guangdong over a six-week joint operation targeting Chinese organized crime syndicates active in prostitution and drug trafficking, Hong Kong police said in statement.

Police carried out similar sweeps annually, but they extended this year's by two weeks because of the games, said government-run broadcaster RTHK. Hong Kong is hosting the equestrian events.

On the mainland, authorities have also cracked down on bars and performers. A warning for entertainers, which were first introduced in 2005, was reissued Thursday cautioning against acts that could tarnish the country's carefully cultivated image of order and control. Authorities were alarmed in March after Icelandic singer Bjork shouted "Tibet! Tibet!" at the end of her concert in Shanghai.

"The content of the performance should not violate the country's law, including situations that harm the sovereignty of the country," the notice said, adding that entertainers also should not harm "national security, or incite racial hatred and ruin ethnic unity."

Live music performances have waned in bars since clubs were told they need a license for live performances.

Will Bernholz, a manager with Kro's Nest, a chain of popular pizza restaurants, said some bars and restaurants were forced to close in the lead-up to the Olympics.

"We've all felt the impact of the Olympics really hurting the social scene ... but people are going to make do, people are going to go where they can," he said.

[whiskyrocker]

What a $hitty place to hold the Olympics.

[tootall10142]

IF YOU ARE KIDNAPPED AND FORCED INTO SEXUAL SLAVERY PUSH 1 NOW.IF YOU SUSPECT THE KIDNAPPERS MAYBE TERRORIST PUSH TWO NOW?IF YOU ARE CHINESE CITIZEN BEING HARRASED BY A HUMAN RIGHT GROUP PUSH 3 NOW.IF YOU HAVE ASSAULTED BY A POLICE OF THE CHINESE GOVT? HANG UP AND DIAL 912 FOR THE OLYMPIC COMMITEE ON HARASSMENT.THIS CALL IS BEING RECORDED FOR QUALITY PURPOSES THANK YOU FOR CALLING YOU NUMBER 133,567.234 543 IN LINE . DO NOT HANG UP AS YOU WILL LOSE YOUR PLACE IN LINE.

[joechristine]

No matter how China Jittery over Olympic Terror Threat,it is far less unstrung than USA ,a police state which guards itself with weapons of the strongest execution in the world and where munitioners are evilest, making mischief among different countries and sparking conflicts all over the world.

[juwboy]

yongamerica asked:

"How are the tourist handlers working large groups of rowdy Irish?"

More to the point:

How are they going to handle the Limey, barbarian, terrorist, soccer-fan hordes?

[yongamerica]

The Chinese government is asking tourists not to make it obvious to the news media they''ve been involved in a terrorist attack or kidnapping. If involved in a kidnapping one can count on being hamburger on the highway either because terrorists will kill you or the rescuing army will kill you to keep this news from leaking out.


Remain calm, don''t fight back and try to send a text message to the police.

That''s how Chinese police have advised people to respond if captured by terrorists during next month''s Olympic Games.

[cultusdeus]

Commit a terrorist act in China? How can the terrorists see to kill anyone, the air is so filthy and dirty. The sight''s not good enough to hit their targets.

[sociald63]

terrorists killing *****!!! Thats a win-win!!


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Posted by usmcvn1 at 05:11 PM : Jul 18, 2008
+ report abuse
...lol - and the won ton soup will kill the terrorists - now, that''s a win-win :)

[fightfascism]

sounds like the old republicommie argument about too much govamint might apply over there!

[cyberus-2009]

Given the level of control of the media in China I don''t think its a very attractive target ... committing an act of terrorism and receiving a 9mm in the back of the head behind a police station without fanfare might be a bit of a deterrent.

[fightfascism]

boycott the olympics and you wont have to worry about it. the chinese goverment is one of the evilest pos'' on the face of the earth today.

[dougmsbbs]

Why did they have to print a manual up? They know it by heart, they supply weapons to most of the bad guys in the world..

[runningralph]

Western civilization has shown signs of weakness in the face of jihadist aggression. It is left up to the US to lead the resistance against jihad. Much as it was in the struggle against communism. If Western civilization loses the war with jihad, the jihadis will be faced with China and Russia. When Islam controls Europe, North and South America, and Africa it will be a terrible struggle.

[yongamerica]

Careful, that suspicious bunch of people watching you are not terrorists, they are the Chinese secret police watching for any pro-democratic activity.

How are the tourist handlers working large groups of rowdy Irish?

[trishab4]

Terrorists do not need to attack China. Pollution alone will take care of the Chinese! LOL!

[trishab4]

CBS: Remain calm, don''t fight back and try to send a text message to the police.

-buy yourself a phone set with Chinese keyboard! oh uh learn Chinese! You still got one month before the beginning of the ceremony! LOL!

[truthislife1]

If the general public does it''s best to watch for suspicious people or unusual activity they might be able to prevent something.

[beehive21-2009]

China be cool, we know the Muslims will stay away, they know you will kill, quickly, and they don''t blend ,easy targets.Fear not as the cowards only kill unarmed, weak,old,children,women and babies, all in the name of a tooth fairy that lived long ago with Satin most likely.Prepare to enjoy a great event , it ''s very cool.

[sevenveils]

The Communist Chines will prosecute any tourist who is bringing a political message to the games as a terrorist. The Chinese government has built special facilities to handle and prosecute these "political terrorist".

Be careful about wabing your country''s flag at the wron time because you will be arrested for inappropriate political terrorist behavior.

[yongamerica]

The Communist Chinese government is seeped in PARANOIA. The biggest threat to the Chinese communists is human rights and democracy. These two are the communist party''s biggest terrorist threats.

Bombs blowing up its citizens and dumpling stands will be tolerated as long as it doesn''t mess up their facade.

FREE TIBET NOW!

[deacon20081]

The Chineese should be worried...The Failure in Chief will be in town.