Beijing Airport Boosting Security for Olympics
China’s state media reported on the 22nd February that security at Beijing Capital International Airport is being boosted pending the Olympics Games, which Beijing is hosting.
Among the measures that will be implemented are police checkpoints on the roads leading in to the hub while, according to Zhang Zhi – a police official at Beijing airport - "Airport police have already been equipped with advanced bomb detecting, moving and disposal devices, along with X-ray machines and anti-riot robots."
"But we need more and faster bomb detectors for the Games," Zhang added, in comments quoted by the China Daily.
Airport Security Zone to be Created
A further measure will be the creation of a security zone around the airport’s perimeter – designed to prevent direct attacks on arriving or departing airliners.
"In addition”, said Zhang, “police teams will conduct thorough background checks on all people employed at the airport."
Earlier this week, one Chinese official spoke of his fear that insurgents living in Xinjiang were planning to target the Games.
FBI Director Impressed with Beijing Security
In January this year, FBI Director Robert Mueller visited the Chinese capital, declaring that the security preparations had impressed him and, in his expectation, the Olympics would be a “secure and safe” event.
Historically speaking, violence has affected a number of previous Olympic events. The 1996 Games in Atlanta, for example, saw a bomb explosion, which caused a single fatality and over 100 injuries.
"There are many happy, important events taking place throughout this year, and the work of the public security bodies will be very hard and complex," Meng Jianzhu, Chinese Security Minister, was quoted by the China News Service as having said.
In September 2007, Airport International reported on the successful triple-runway trial carried out at Beijing Capital. The airport, we wrote, has been making provision for the Beijing Olympics since 2004.
Source – Airport International’s Far East Correspondent
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