Five hurt after gun accidentally fires during police safety talk at kindergarten

A girl injured during a police safety demonstration at a kindergarten is treated at a hospital in Zhengzhou, Henan province, on Thursday. An officer's gun accidentally discharged during the exercise, injuring the girl and four other people. Provided to China Daily

Legal experts are calling for greater supervision of weapons after a handgun accidentally fired during a safety awareness demonstration held by two police officers at a kindergarten in Henan province.

The two police officers were holding the demonstration on personal safety and violence prevention at the school in Zhengzhou on Thursday to celebrate International Children's Day, which falls on Sunday.

The gun accidentally fired into the concrete surface on which they were standing, creating debris and sparks that struck the legs and arms of four parents and a child. They suffered light injuries and were sent to a hospital.

After the incident, parents voiced their concerns about the usefulness of demonstrating a gun in front of children.

A grandmother, who would only reveal her surname, Zhang, said she took her 4-year-old grandson home after she heard about the accident, though a school employee assured her that the other children at the demonstration were safe.

"It's quite inappropriate to show off guns for children," she said.

The two police officers have been confined, and three direct supervisors, including the deputy leader of the district police substation, have been suspended, according to an announcement by the substation.

The district substation police apologized for the incident and vowed to learn from it to prevent any future accidents.

The incident comes after a police officer lost his gun in a hotel in Sichuan province on April 28.

Hong Daode, a law professor at China University of Political Science and Law, said disciplinary inspection departments from the public security organs should enhance their supervision of armed police. Hong added that police officers usually carry guns when they are off duty.

Chen Tianben, an associate professor at People's Public Security University of China, said the use of weapons by police officers needs to be better supervised and added that an improved system to control the use of guns in demonstrations must be created.