Crackdown on illegal firearms underway

Police in 154 cities across the country have destroyed 107,000 illegal firearms, explosives and detonators that were confiscated starting last year, the Ministry of Public Security said on Monday.

On Monday morning, police in Wuhan, Hubei province, destroyed a number of air guns, shotguns and replica firearms as well as explosives and detonators by melting them in a steel plant furnace, which was stoked to reach temperatures of up to 1,600 C.

"Gun-and explosives-related cases endanger people's lives, public security and the country's long-term stability," Sun Lijun, vice-minister of public security, said on Monday.