New | High-intensity training set for 1,350 Beijing police officers
The six-month programme involves working with super efficiency in fires and large crowds to deal with terrorism and 'extreme behaviour', public security authorities say
Beijing police officers are receiving high-intensity spot training to prepare for any possible terrorist attacks or extreme behaviour there, the municipal public security bureau said.
About 1,350 officers and 150 armoured vehicles began taking part in the six-month training programme on Monday, to “improve the core ability of officers involved in anti-terrorism/violence and to deal with extreme behaviour,” the bureau said on its website.
The training includes intensive five-day courses designed by skilled veterans who have experience from recent violent incidents that have happened across the mainland, including the hostage incident that took place in May last year in the capital, The Beijing News reported.
They undergo drills in which “police officers would be able to accurately locate suspects in crowds and fire, without hurting any surrounding people”, the newspaper reported, quoting Li Qiang, a deputy director of the criminal police corps.
These officers would be required to fire bullets within 1 to 1.5 seconds from different angles, and for the first time ever, they are practising shooting with paintball guns to improve their accuracy, The News reported.
Every officer will be required to fire 120 bullets from pistols and 30 from rifles per day during the training.