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The city of Beijing has launched a thorough inspection of its 276 subway stations to ensure passengers' security, Beijing News reported on Tuesday.
As the largest anti-terrorism action of this kind in the city’s subway, the Beijing Municipal Public Security Bureau sent an inspection team of 1,200 police officers to all the subway stations along the 17 subway lines on Monday.
The inspection involved almost every corner of the stations, including the trash cans. If a potential risk was found, the inspection team supervised its rectification or ordered the rectification to be made within a deadline.
Following several terrorist attacks across the country, security has been boosted in the capital’s subways. Currently, nine stations have strengthened security checks.
All police officers on patrol at some of the busiest stations are armed with guns. Explosion-proof devices and police dogs that can identify inflammable materials are also standing by at busy stations.
Recently, several incidents happened in Beijing’s subway stations, most of which turned out to be false alarms. Tan Quan, deputy head of the traffic corps of Beijing’s Municipal Public Security Bureau, reminded passengers to stay calm and follow instructions in case of an emergency.
★ Security inspectors added
At 9:30 am on Monday, police officers from Beijing’s Municipal Public Security Bureau inspected security facilities at Wangfujing subway station.
Chen Jihong, a security inspector, said that 40 security staff members had been added to each work shift to make sure security checks were operated via devices and staff at the same time. All subway staff members have received anti-terrorism training from the police.
The number of inspectors has increased at the 9 stations using comprehensive checks and it will reach 56 by the end of the year.
★ Security facilities upgraded
At Wangfujing station, there are more than five inspectors at each checkpoint. In addition to security scanners that detect metal cutting tools, there are also detectors for fluids and explosives.
At the Qianmen station on subway line 2, police officers stand on both sides of the entrance. Passenger identities are verified and recorded at Exit A, which leads to Tiananmen Square.
Trash cans searched and sound pickups installed
Trash cans are also a key point in the subway anti-terrorism inspection. In the eight stations on Chang’an Avenue along subway line 1, staff members continuously search trash cans and the search is conducted every 15 minutes during peak hours.
"Currently, every trash can in the station has a specified location," said a staff member at Wangfujing station. Trash cans are placed within the monitoring area of security cameras. Janitors clean the trash cans every 15 minutes.
Sound pickup devices have been installed on platforms to uncover anything suspicious. Another staff member at Qianmen station explained that these pickups will collect sounds and send them to the control room. In case of an incident, sound recordings will provide clues for further investigation.
★ Evacuation plans in place
Considering the large passenger flows during an emergency, every station has a detailed evacuation plan in place.
A police officer from the inspection team said that subway passages are cleared of any irrelevant items and personnel that might hinder the evacuation.
If an accident happens, inspectors will immediately lock the entrance and control the passenger flows under police instruction. Emergency exits will open to allow evacuation to start in an orderly manner.
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