Central China city's anti-terror drill ahead of holiday

WUHAN - Police in a central China city held an anti-terror drill on Sunday to strengthen security prior to the National Day holiday beginning on October 1.

Helicopters and a variety of armored cars were deployed in Shouyi Square in Wuhan City, capital of Hubei Province, as some 1,200 policemen equipped with batons, handcuffs and tear gas battled "criminals" in terrorist scenarios.

The drill, the biggest anti-terror practice in Wuhan in years, was held to enhance security in preparation for the upcoming "Golden Week" holiday, as well as to test police emergency response, said Yu Chunxiang, head of the city's public security bureau.

The event came one day after Beijing authorities held anti-terrorism drills across the Chinese capital to beef up security during the National Day holiday, which typically sees a tourism boom across the country.

Police authorities in Hubei opened the first anti-terror platform on WeChat, a popular instant messaging service in China, in a step to encourage the public to report on terrorist activities.

Hubei's public security department will award each informant up to 200,000 yuan ($32,645), Dong Guoxiang, deputy head of the provincial public security department said.