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April 12, 2008
This is a test.
From Xinhua —
One terrorist in the disguise of a patient detonated an explosive device in the outpatient hall of the Friendship Hospital at 5 p.m., killing three or four people instantly and injuring more than 30.
The blast also set a few facilities on fire and caused poisonous gas to spread to the wards, threatening the health of the in-patients.
The Urumqi government instantly launched a public health emergency plan, blocking adjacent areas of the hospital and summoning medical experts from other hospitals to the site.
Within five minutes, an emergency headquarter was set up and nine ambulances with more than 200 rescuers arrived at the Friendship Hospital.
After one hour, the explosion site was in order with injured people sent to other hospitals and experts investigating the attack.
••••
Oh, sorry... I forgot to mention that this was only the scenario for a "medical training exercise" held yesterday. Hope I didn't scare anyone! Coming just one day after Chinese authorities unmasked an audacious East Turkestan terrorist plot to annihilate the Olympics, maybe it would have been wise to delay this particular simulation (or at least the Xinhua story) for a few days?
China's Xinjiang holds medical simulation exercise on terrorist bombing
11 April 2008
Xinhua News Agency
URUMQI, April 11 (Xinhua) -- China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region on Friday held a medical training exercise in the wake of a simulated terrorist bombing, one day after the Ministry of Public Security announced the breakup of two terrorist groups in the northwestern area.
The exercise, under the direction of the health bureau of Urumqi, Xinjiang's regional capital, focused on an emergency response by medical institutions and authorities.
According to the exercise scenario, one terrorist in the disguise of a patient detonated an explosive device in the outpatient hall of the Friendship Hospital at 5 p.m., killing three or four people instantly and injuring more than 30.
The blast also set a few facilities on fire and caused poisonous gas to spread to the wards, threatening the health of the in-patients.
The Urumqi government instantly launched a public health emergency plan, blocking adjacent areas of the hospital and summoning medical experts from other hospitals to the site.
Within five minutes, an emergency headquarter was set up and nine ambulances with more than 200 rescuers arrived at the Friendship Hospital.
After one hour, the explosion site was in order with injured people sent to other hospitals and experts investigating the attack.
The exercise, the first of its kind in the city, was "successful" and provided experiences for possible attacks, said Vice Mayor Tong Zhaoling.
On Thursday, the Ministry of Public Security said they had smashed two terrorist groups who had planned to start terrorist attacks using explosives and poison in Beijing and Shanghai to wreck the Olympic Games and to kidnap foreign journalists, tourists and athletes during the Games.
posted April 12, 2008 at 02:59 AM unofficial Xinjiang time | HaoHao This!
Comments
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God damn it, Michael.
So, apparently the Chinese government doesn't think people are jittery enough yet? Regardless, China might as well err on the side of "secure". Atlanta and all.
Posted by: Tiako at April 12, 2008 04:47 AM
Oh man, you really shocked me.......
Posted by: miloservic at April 12, 2008 04:48 AM
It's all planned to achieve the maximum effect. The smashing of the terrorist group happened some time ago. They planned the release of the information on the smashing and the exercise way ahead of time to maximize the shock value.
Love to see a plan comes together.
Posted by: Tina at April 12, 2008 08:48 AM
Maximise the shock value, or show the world just how seriously- and competently- China is taking security for the Olympics?
Posted by: chriswaugh_bj at April 12, 2008 10:13 AM
stories like this attract undue attention, you've been warned
Posted by: annonomyous at April 12, 2008 10:22 AM
@Chris waugh- obviously a bit of both. James
Posted by: James at April 12, 2008 11:06 AM
Wow!!! Very similar to the plane hyjacking... both bollocks.
Posted by: Jimba at April 12, 2008 03:38 PM
So, how true are any of these stories or the threat? your coverage is suitably skeptical, but i can never quite get a sense of whether anything is actually going on...i guess that's what they want, but surely there must be some way of figuring out if anything is going on.
Posted by: europhobe at April 12, 2008 08:47 PM
also, wow anonymous: "stories like this attract undue attention, you've been warned"
Posted by: europhobe at April 12, 2008 08:48 PM
@annonomyous: I'm sorry, but isn't this a Xinhua story? I'm not coming up with this stuff myself here. And who's doing the warning?
Posted by: michael at April 12, 2008 10:44 PM
Phew!! gasp gasp - [wipes sweating brow and palms] - - stop doing this to me! I'm getting too old for games like this.
Posted by: flotsam at April 13, 2008 01:06 AM