China’s terrorism problem is worsening as a growing Uighur-led Islamist militancy has emerged in response to the Chinese government’s tough stance on ethnic problems in the Uighur homeland of Xinjiang in west China. In response to the growing security risks, Beijing passengers are now subject to security checks before
China's terrorism problem is worsening as a growing Uighur-led Islamist militancy has emerged in response to the Chinese government's tough stance on ethnic problems in the Uighur homeland of Xinjiang in west China. In response to the growing security risks, Beijing passengers are now subject to security checks before their train commute.
China's Beijing subway system is among the busiest in the world, with sixteen lines completing more than ten million passenger rides a day. The mass concentration of passengers in one area represents a security problem; especially in the wake of recent attacks, including an April explosion at a train station in Urumqi which killed three people, preceded by a knife attack in March at a southwest Kunming train station.
China's terrorism problem may be worsening as a growing Uighur-led Islamist militancy has emerged in response to the Chinese government's tough stance on ethnic problems in the Uighur homeland of Xinjiang in west China. Security experts are now worried that the mass of people outside Beijing's subway stations might be prime targets for terrorists. Another bomb explosion or knife attack at any crowded station could lead to major casualties if commuters have limited exit points. Yet some commuters consider the security procedures a new normal. The security checks began earlier this year as a continuation of previous checks on passengers' luggage issued during the 2008 Beijing Olympics.