Anti-terror training stepped up ahead of Olympics

"This year poses a challenging test. We have scheduled massive training programmes before the Olympics to better prepare against any possible threat," a senior military official said.

Identifying terrorism as the "biggest threat" at the Olympic Games, Public Security Minister Zhou Yongkang had told a security conference in Beijing in September last, that the general security remained stable but "we still face the challenges of terrorism, separatism and extremism." China has been holding anti-terrorism drills to brace itself up for any possible threat during the Olympics.

The PLA, which has formed a security unit comprising Army, Navy and the Air Force personnel, is responsible for protection of all venues, and maritime safety of coastal venues.

It would mainly deal with non-traditional threats during the summer games, particularly biochemical and nuclear terror attacks.

The PLA would also assist the police and armed police forces and deal with terror attacks and rescue operations in "disaster or accident situations", the official from the General Staff Headquarters of the Peoples Liberation Army was quoted as saying by Xinhua new agency.

On Friday last, the PLA conducted safety inspections of the "Water Cube", the Olympic venue for water events.