Beijing to use people power as new weapon against Olympic terrorism

London, July 19 : The city of Beijing in China is planning to enlist its 15 million residents as another layer in its shield to protect venues in the Olympic games against possible terrorist attacks.

According to a report in New Scientist, Olympic security officials are publishing a new anti-terrorism manual to educate Chinese people about possible threats and tell them how to respond in the event they are captured or encounter a threat.

"When you notice something suspicious, you need to check it first, then listen, then smell, but try to avoid touching it," the manual says.

The manual describes 39 different potential terrorism threats, including explosions, arson, shootings, hijacking and even chemical, biological, or nuclear attack.

Officials have said that security forces had foiled five "terrorism groups" planning to attack the Beijing Olympics, with police detaining 82 people in Xinjiang.

China, eager to use the games to showcase its rise as a modern economic power, has said that homegrown threats come top of security worries, including from Uighur militants campaigning for independence for Xinjiang in China's far northwest, and from Tibetan independence groups.

The security-obsessed government has identified a possible terrorist attack as the biggest potential threat to the successful hosting of the games and it has widely publicised its security preparations.

"You also have to hide your mobile phones if kidnapped by terrorists," according to an excerpt of the manual.

It was not clear how many copies of the manual would be published or when and how it might be distributed.

ANI