| Fatal HIjack_How safe is Xi'an | |
|---|---|
| Mar 6, 2008 04:14 |   |
 | this happened in Xi'an yesterday. Anyone else heard the news yet ???? The Australians, all travel agents on an educational tour, were taken hostage in the city of Xian - where the main attraction is the Terracotta Army - in Shaanxi province in north-west China. The man, Xia Tao, reported to be a factory worker, boarded their bus at 10.52am and demanded transport to the airport. After nine of the hostages were released and taken to safety, members of the Xian Public Security Bureau spoke to Xia. As thousands of people crowded around Xian's central Bell and Drum Tower Square, where the hijack occurred, they agreed to let him go to the airport. |
| Mar 6, 2008 07:52 | #1 |
| I wanted to post it this morning... Hijacker shot after taking Australian hostage in Xi’an Agence France-Presse in Beijing 6:15pm, Mar 05, 2008 A hijacker armed with explosives took a group of Australian tourists and a translator hostage in China on Wednesday before police shot and killed him, an Australian embassy official and Chinese media reported. Initially 10 Australians were taken hostage on a tourist bus in the city of Xi’an in northwest China but nine were released soon after, Janaline Oh, spokeswoman for the Australian Embassy in Beijing, told reporters. “Nine Australian passengers were released and transported to safety and a 48-year-old woman from New South Wales was not released with the rest of the group,” she said. Mainland police agreed to let the hijacker, Xia Tao, change buses and head to the airport before shooting him as he approached the toll station, China’s state-run Xinhua news agency reported, citing the local public security bureau. “Chinese security authorities intervened and secured the release of the woman and the Australian government is pleased the hostages are now safe,” Oh said. Oh said she did not believe the hostages had suffered any injuries. Xinhua said the woman and translator were unharmed. Xia took the passengers hostage just before 10.00am HK time, the report said. Xi’an is one of China’s most popular tourist destinations, with the main attraction being the terracotta army, a collection of more than 8,000 life-size figures dating back to around 200 BC. |
| Mar 6, 2008 20:51 | #2 |
| Phew! Luckily, no body was harmed in the hijacking accident. Both tourists and Public Secrurity Administrations must keep alert as the travel peak is forthcoming. This could be a warning signal for Beijing Olympic Organizing Committee. This August, athletes and travellers from all over the world will swarm into Beijing. Beijing needs to take more efforts to ensure a safe Olympic Games. |
| Mar 6, 2008 22:51 | #3 |
| Leonardo, that's a scary thought! I never even thought about that. So many athletes and tourists are coming. Seems like the authorities have to step up the security and surveillance. Certainly, the Olympic Committee and China as a whole, will not want that. Hopefully, this is just an isolated incident. Here’s hoping it will not produce many copycats. By the way, why did the guy hijack the tourists? Did he make any demands before he was shot? |
| Mar 6, 2008 23:09 | #4 |
| Sounds like just another person who should have been receiving medical help. No sane person in their right mind would attempt this stunt. Dodger. |
| Mar 8, 2008 09:36 | #5 |
| The man had something on his mind. He was apparently loaded with explosives and some reports say that he had been trying to contact police. I wonder if his motives will ever be known or released to the public. How easy was it for him to step into a bus full of foreigners in a very public place. A fatal hijacking is one with a fatality. One person died. His death is still a tragedy. |
| Mar 8, 2008 17:11 | #6 |
| I read in the papers that he had some money problems and had been receiving fines from the police that he could not pay. Dodger. |
Post a Reply to: Fatal HIjack_How safe is Xi'an
Copyright © 1998-2024 All rights reserved.