Police foil terrorist attempts to derail Games

A senior police officer yesterday revealed attempts by two terrorist groups in Xinjiang to kidnap foreigners and carry out suicide attacks in the run-up to, and during, the Beijing Olympic Games.

The groups were plotting attacks on hotels, government buildings and military installations in Beijing and Shanghai, Public Security Ministry spokesman Wu Heping told a press conference in Beijing.

A total of 45 terrorists have been detained, and a large quantity of explosives seized.