China unveils anti-terrorism manual for Olympics

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China’s Ministry of Public Security has prepared a manual that tells citizens how to respond to terrorism. The book includes 39 scenarios of terrorist attacks, ranging from explosions and arson to kidnapping and shootings. The ministry did not say how the book would be distributed.

The Chinese government, in a statement, said that the book ‘teaches people how to identify suspicious substances, for instance, a bomb, and how to help themselves and each other in such dangerous conditions as being kidnapped by terrorists.’

Chinese terrorism experts who wrote the manual advised people to ‘please try your best to stay calm. Don’t fight back, don’t meet kidnappers’ eyes, don’t talk, move slowly and try your best to hide your communication devices. Lie face down on the ground when the police attack the terrorists.’

The ministry described the manual as ‘practical ... If correctly following its instruction, citizens are very much likely to escape and even stop a terrorist attack.’

In a related development, China has announced cash awards ranging from 10,000 yuan to 500,000 yuan ($1,449 to $72,463) for people who come forward with useful tips that stop ‘serious crimes’ while the Beijing Games are underway.

Chinese officials have said that the country fears that dissidents -- including Islamic insurgents in the western province of Xinjiang and Tibetans seeking to split from China -- might try to disrupt the Beijing Games that begin at 8 p.m. on Aug. 8.