When it comes to terror, China is taking no chances. Concerned over the "meticulously planned" Mumbai terror attacks, the anti-terrorism police has undertaken an elaborate mock exercise to prevent any such possible attacks on its soil.
Members of the Beijing Special Armed Police Unit (BSAPU) used a helicopter and ropes to get 10 metres down to the ground. They then shot targets of swaying eggs 15 metres away within 1.5 seconds to practice "killing" terrorists. After breaking through windows, police rescued the "hostages."
"The drill was aimed at preventing terrorist attacks, especially after the Mumbai attack which had definite targets and careful plan. We noticed that the terrorists attacked different sites of the city in different ways such as explosions, shooting, kidnapping and a gunfight with the police," said Xiao Yong, the head of the unit.
The mock exercise was conducted on Sunday soon after Indian and Chinese forces held a counter-terrorism drill in Belgaum in Karnataka.
"Beijing armed police conducted an anti-terror drill to strengthen its preparedness against militant attacks like the one in Mumbai," Xinhua news agency reported, noting that it was aimed at rescuing kidnapped hostages at a city hotel.
"The drill was aimed at preventing terrorist attacks, especially after the Mumbai attack which had definite targets and careful plan. We noticed that the terrorists attacked different sites of the city in different ways such as explosions, shooting, kidnapping and a gunfight with the police," said Xiao Yong, the head of the unit.
"We have done thorough research on different kinds of attacks and made a complete and cohesive counter-terrorism plan," Xiao said.
Members of the BSAPU are carefully selected and specially trained. They are each armed with a wide array of weapons and equipment worth over $43,795.
China had sent a 137-member contingent of People's Liberation Army to take part in the second edition of an eight-day-long "Exercise Hand-in-Hand" in Belgaum, where the two sides trained jointly to act against terrorists.
With PTI inputs
More from rediff