A senior police officer Thursday 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.
"These terrorists were attempting sabotage to undermine the upcoming Games. They were also plotting to kidnap athletes, foreign journalists and other visitors," Wu said.
"We face a real terrorist threat."
In the first case, Wu said, police in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region netted, between January 4 and 11, a 10-member terrorist group led by Aji Muhammat.
Police also seized 18 explosive devices, 4 kg of explosives, seven detonators, 100 kg of raw material for making explosives and massive text materials on starting a "holy war", Wu said.
The group was sent by East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM) separatists from abroad to carry out terrorist attacks, according to police.
Aji Muhammat and his gang members also confessed to their crimes, Wu said.
Under the guidance of the ETIM, listed as a terror group by the United Nations and the United States in 2002, the gang had been secretly recruiting members and sending them abroad for terrorist training, Wu said. They had also been raising money to buy explosives.
The members were ordered to put hotels, government buildings and military facilities in Beijing and Shanghai under surveillance, he said.
"After 13 explosive and poisonous-device experiments in remote areas of the country, they planned to conduct attacks using explosives and poison in Beijing and Shanghai starting this May," Wu said.
The second terrorist group, based in Urumqi, capital of Xinjiang, was uncovered between March 26 and April 6, according to the ministry.
Wu said the group planned to launch human bombs in Urumqi and other big cities, and to kidnap foreign athletes at the Games and reporters covering the Olympics.
"These facts show that terrorists, led by the ETIM, are actively plotting attacks to undermine the Games," Wu said.
"However, the arrests of the two groups show that Chinese police are well prepared and capable of foiling any sabotage."
