CHINA: OLYMPICS BEIJING 2008 - Apology follows Olympic bomb-scare rumour

Record ID: 356842

  • Title: CHINA: OLYMPICS BEIJING 2008 - Apology follows Olympic bomb-scare rumour
  • Date: 8th August 2008
  • Summary: (BN3) BEIJING, CHINA (AUGUST 7, 2008) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF SEARCH ARMY LORRIES
  • Embargoed: 23rd August 2008 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: China
  • Country: China
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVA35ERNIUEBPNY4I4G03YYRY5SN
  • Story Text: Olympic security forces carried out a search near the Birds Nest stadium in Beijing on Thursday (August 7) apparently searching for a suspect package, sparking rumours of a bomb scare.
    With just a day to go until the Games opening ceremony, the Chinese authorities are on a high level of vigilence follwing an attack on police in the country's far west which officials say was part of a concerted sabotage attempt on the Olympics.
    Sniffer dogs and soldiers with metal detectors were seen to carry out searches, although the rumours of a bomb were later discounted by the Beijing Organising Committee of the Olympic Games (BOCOG).
    But the games' security chief, Liu Shaowu, later issued an apology to journalists after a mix up over security passes to Olympic venues caused huge queues to build up at vetting points outside the Main Press Centre (MPC).

    "The relevant departments have made a mistake. We offer our sincere apologies to journalists for your inconvenience," said Liu.
    China has said security is the priority for the Games. A force of 100,000 security personnel are patrolling Beijing and anti-missile barriers have been set up near the Bird's Nest Stadium.
    But a group of four pro-Tibet protesters managed to spend an hour outside the Bird's Nest stadium this week before being apprehended.
    On Thursday Chinese plainclothes security officials dragged away three American Christian activists after they attempted to protest for religious freedom for a second day near the Olympic host city's Tiananmen Square.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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