Five punished for photo stunt at Shanghai war landmark

Five people who were involved in posing for pictures dressed in Imperial Japanese Army uniforms in front of a stronghold used by Chinese soldiers to repel Japanese invaders during the Battle of Shanghai in 1937 received punishment for breaking the law, Shanghai police announced on Wednesday.

Three adults have been held in administrative detention for violating the law on public security administration. The others were given warning because they are under age and committed an obviously minor illegal act, the police said in a statement published on social media.

The photos, which show them standing in front of the historic Sihang Warehouse, began circulating on Aug 8. Many people commented online that it was disrespectful.

A police investigation showed that the group of military uniform fans took the photos around 10 pm on Aug 3.

"Their acts have greatly hurt the patriotic feeling of the public and generated bad publicity," the police said in the statement. It didn't say which article of the law they violated or how long they will be in administrative detention.

All five people have expressed sincere regret about what they did, Shanghai police said.