China to ban air freighting of 'dangerous goods'

Beijing, Jun 17 (PTI) China will ban airlines from carrying
explosives for civil use, guns and ammunition to six Olympics
host cities, including Beijing, for three months from July one
as part of ramped up security measures for the Games, the
Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) said.
Air freighting of other "dangerous goods" barring some
items for public health and medical uses would also come under
the ban that would cover Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin, Shenyang,
Qinhuangdao and Qingdao, it said.
During the ban period that would last till September 30,
flights carrying high-risk chemicals such as poisonous gas and
radioactive substances, to other cities must be inspected and
authorised by the administration, state-run Xinhua news agency
said quoting CAAC.
"Dangerous goods" urgently needed by the state or in
disaster relief work must go through the same process and be
recorded, CAAC said.
A raft of measures, including banning of lighters and
matches from carry-on luggage and crews on international
flights and limiting the number of cabin baggage articles and
checking shoes, is already in place to ensure aviation safety
ahead of the Olympics in August.
With terrorism identified as the biggest threat to the
Olympics, security has been a top priority for the government.
China June 11 launched a series of week-long nationwide
anti-terrorist drills, including missions to deal with
chemical attack and hijacking of athletes buses, to brace
itself up to the threats to the Olympics.
Dubbed "Great Wall 5", the drills involved the People’s
Liberation Army, the police forces, the People’s Armed Police
and the health, environmental protection, meteorology and
transportation departments, the state media said.
A week before, authorities had formed 40 "crack forces" to
fight possible terrorism, including biological attacks,
nuclear and other radioactive accidents and bombing, during
the Olympics.
China’s postal service a few days ago suspended mailing
liquid parcels and a few other materials as part of stepped up
security.
The head of Interpol Ronald Noble warned in Beijing
recently that an attempted act of terrorism was a "real
possibility" and China must be prepared for a possible strike
by Al Qaeda or some other terrorist group during the Olympics.
China’s People’s Liberation Army said recently that it is
fully gearing itself up to handle any emergency during the
Beijing Olympics with its plans that included preventing
potential nuclear, biological or chemical attacks.
Ministry of Public Security had earlier reported foiled
plots to crash a Beijing-bound passenger aircraft and carry
out bomb attacks on hotels and government offices in the
Chinese capital and other cities and kidnap foreign tourists,
journalists and athletes during Olympics.