426 people detained in Beijing last year for terrorism-related activities

BEIJING: Over 426 people, including suspected militants, rumourmongers and those involved in promotion of online terrorism, have been detained here in the Chinese capital last year.

A probe is also being carried out in 7,398 tip-offs related to terrorism.

Security was beefed up after a terrorist attack at the Forbidden city here in 2013 in which five persons including three suicide attackers from Xinjiang were killed.

In addition, police conducted 11 anti-terror drills in 2014, a spokesperson of Beijing Municipal Public Security Bureau said.

As terrorist activity is on a rise, the police have improved their capability in intelligence, in handling emergencies and in the chain of command, he said.

The 426 detainees include suspected terrorists, rumourmongers and those who disseminated terrorist propaganda online, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.

The number of robberies and murder hit a decade low last year with nearly 72.1 per cent of such cases brought to a satisfactory conclusion. There were over 3,400 drug cases, up by 51.7 per cent and 148.6 kilogrammes of illegal substances were seized.