Exercises to crack down on terrorists

PLA Daily 2003-09-03

Chinese troops besieged and eliminated "terrorists". Photo by Song Shangju

　　On August 23, a successful anti-terrorism exercise was conducted in a mountainous area in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region，with the participation of the PLA units, the Armed Police Force, civilian police, militia and local governments.

　　Blocked from the air and on the ground, "terrorists" were inescapable

　　At 5:00 pm August 23, an Air Force command post received an order from its superiors, saying that a civil flight hijacked by a gang of "terrorists" was flying towards our important target. Upon receiving the order, four fighters immediately took off to intercept it. The fighters finally forced the hijacked plane to land at an airport.

　　Officers and men of the Armed Police Force had sealed off the airport. Soon after the plane landed, four armed policemen climbed to the top of the plane to monitor the "terrorists" inside. Just as the "terrorists" were hesitating what to do next, the four men broke into the plane and arrested the gang.

　　"Hostages" were not the talisman of "terrorists"

　　After the leader of the gang was arrested and taken to a hospital for medical treatment, more than 20 "terrorists" disguised themselves into medical workers who were sending emergency patients into a hospital, where they held nearly 100 "hostages". They controlled the commanding height of the hospital and the oxygen bank and demanded the authorities to release their leader and allow them to get away. The Armed Police Force encircled the hospital and then captured the hospital. Soon after that, the hostages were rescued.

　　Harmful gases were neutralized

　　One chemical plant was bombed by "terrorists" and toxic gases leaked from the broken canisters and pipes, clouding the whole plant and drifting everywhere. The PLA anti-chemical battalion rushed to the site to block the leaking canisters and pipes. Then, they fired a rocket consisting of a chemical substance to neutralize the toxic gases emitting from the destroyed plant.

　　Joint command post sit closely with "terrorists"

　　A gang of "terrorists" destroyed roads and paths, planted mines, set up obstacles and dug trenches after they captured a town, trying to resist anti-terrorism troops. Special troops and local militia joined efforts to launch a decisive battle against the "terrorists".

　　The joint command post was located in a camouflaged tent within easy reach of the "terrorists". The commanders, including a division commander, heads of local governments, the air force commanders, leaders of the Armed Police Force unit and leaders of public security bureau, analyzed gathered information and drew up a plan to eliminate the "terrorists". Then, all special troops quickly surrounded the town.

　　No one could get away

　　Paths hiding in the mountains provided access for "terrorists" to communicate with foreign terrorist organizations. To check their activties, planes and armed helicopters struck the entrenchment of the "terrorists" and the artillery troops shelled their bunkers and caves. At the same time, electronic interference troops launched cyber attacks on their network and cut their communications lines and military helicopter carried a task force to land on a commanding point. Finally, armored tanks ran down the fire obstacles and entrenchment deployed by the "terrorists" and stifled their gunfire. They had no way out and were forced to surrender.

　　By Su Ruozhou and Li Fengming

　　(September 3, PLA Daily)