China Says It Has Foiled Terrorist Group's Olympic Kidnapping Plot
Chinese officials today said that they had "uncovered a criminal ring" that was "plotting to kidnap athletes, foreign journalists and other visitors" during the Beijing Olympics. China Ministry of Public Security spokesperson Wu Heping said 35 members of a group based in the Xinjiang region were arrested between March 26 and April 6. Wu: "We face a real terrorist threat" (AP, 4/10). Chinese officials said that police found 22 pounds of explosives and eight sticks of dynamite associated with the group. CNN’s Kiran Chetry reports the plot is "said to be part of a movement called the East Turkistan Islamic Movement." CNN correspondent Will Geddes reports the group "has been operating for quite some time" and has been linked to Osama Bin Laden. Geddes said the plot was a "highly organized and well-planned operation that they were intending to roll out" either in advance of or during the Olympics. Geddes: "The goal of this group is to try and gain independence for their particular region in China. ... What they’re looking for is an independent state, but they’re going about it in a very militant action." Geddes notes China's government will “want this information to come to light. They’re going to want the PR of telling the international community, and also the IOC, that they have the security situation in hand" (CNN, 4/10). However, in Manchester, Tania Branigan reports human rights groups warn that Chinese authorities "have a history of exaggerating the threat of violence to strengthen their control over the region and justify repressive measures" (GUARDIAN.co.uk, 4/10).
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