Beijing to hold first-ever nuclear terror drill

Beijing will conduct its first-ever mock drill to test its responses to a potential nuclear attack next month as part of the city's preparations for 2008 Olympics, the municipal government said on Tuesday.

Organised by the municipal health bureau, the mock drill would involve several government bureaus, including environmental protection, the centre for disease control and fire brigade, an official with the government's emergency response office, Shan Qingsheng, said.

The drill would focus on a scenario in which a 'dirty bomb' loaded with explosives and radioactive substances is set off outside an Olympic stadium, the Xinhua News Agency quoted Shan as saying.

The bureaus involved would have to immediately react to the bomb.

Using radiation detectors, the fire brigade would first find a safe route into the scene of the 'bombing' before rescuers could enter to give first aid.

Medical teams would then give a radiation rating and define the type of radiation so that the injured could receive appropriate treatment.

The national medical base of nuclear and radiation incident, located in the Third Hospital of Peking University, would receive and treat 'victims' of the drill, according to the plan.

A hospital official confirmed that they were preparing for the drill for which a quick-response team, involving 63 medical workers, have been established.

"If Beijing is now hit by a 'dirty bomb', we are able to provide more than 100 beds for the injured," the official said.

The organisers, however, declined to give the exact time and location of the mock drill and how many people would be involved.