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China Reveals Names of Suspected Olympic Terrorists

by Jon Azpiri | October 21, 2008 at 03:56 pm

196 views | 4 Recommendations | 6 comments

Chinese officials have released a list of suspects wanted for plotting a series of terrorist attacks during this year's Summer Olympic games in Beijing. The eight Chinese nationals are believed to be members of the East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM), a group with links to Al-Qaeda.

The eight "seriously threatened the security of the Beijing Olympic Games and China's social stability, while at the same time composing a threat to the security and stability of relevant countries and the region," Wu said.

Wu did not say where the men were suspected of hiding and left the briefing without taking questions.

He said one of the men planned to bomb a supermarket popular with Chinese business people in an unspecified Middle Eastern country ahead of the opening of the Olympic Games. Another suspect had prepared to attack a Chinese club in a South Asian nation, he said, without giving details.

In August, 33 people died in at least four attacks in the Xinjiang region. The attacks are believed to have been carried out by members of the Uighur ethnic group, a Muslim minority in the Xianjiang region.

Wu Heping of the Public Security Ministry did not say if the eight men were involved in any of those attacks.

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Amitjha

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 21:11 on October 21st, 2008

Jon Azpiri, I like this story. It's good stuff.

The chinese way of handling crime always attract suspision, what could be the reason behind this kind of disclosure after so much delay?

Dublin Jade

at 21:27 on October 21st, 2008

The security was extremely tight for Beijing Olympics.
I shot this picture two hours before the closing ceremony.
No one can get in the Olympic Park without the pass or the ticket, not even a bird.

Dublin Jade has contributed a photo to this story.

Eustaquio Santimano

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 22:16 on October 21st, 2008

Jon Azpiri, I like this story. It's good stuff.

Keung

at 00:42 on October 22nd, 2008

Keung has contributed a photo to this story.

jokimoto2000

at 17:35 on October 23rd, 2008

It really was quite calm at Tienanmen Square during the Olympics. There were some foreign tourists, but the bulk of the people were Chinese tourists who were anxious to see the lowering of the flag ceremony. A "must see" event for Chinese visitors.

What you don't see in this picture are the tents with metal detectors at entrances or all of the uniformed and plain clothed soldiers and security guards milling about.

jokimoto2000 has contributed a photo to this story.