Internet Threat To Grab Olympic Torch Results In Arrest Of Chinese Man

Beijing, China (AHN) - A Chinese man was arrested for saying his plans in the Internet to grab the Olympic torch during its visit through eastern China, according to the police on Sunday.

A 25-year-old man, identified only as a certain Tang, was detained on May 7 in Zhenjiang in Jiangsu province in eastern China after authorities discovered his plans posted in an Internet chat room about organizing a group to grab the torch when it arrives in Nanjing, near Zhenjiang on May 24. Tang is charged for allegedly spreading rumor online and disturbing public order and will be detained for 10 days, according to an official in the public security bureau, who would give only his surname Zhang.

Authorities were led to Tang's alleged plans after a message posted in a chat room saying he was wanted by authorities for grabbing the Olympic Torch in Nanjing. Tang works for a telecommunications company in Zhenjiang, according to the Xinhua News Agency.

Internet users in China have increased rapidly to 221 million, making the country one of the largest online users in the world.

Unlike its visits to other countries which has been hounded by protests, the Olympic torch relay in mainland China has had boisterous receptions from supporters. In Guangzhou, officials had to extinguish the torch and alter its scheduled route to avoid the unexpected enthusiasm of local supporters, according to the website Around the Rings which monitors the event.

The Olympic torch will travel through every region and province in China before making its return to Beijing on Aug. 6, two days ahead of the opening ceremony of the 2008 Olympics. It is presently in the Fujian province for its Monday relay in Quanzhou and Xiamen. Quanzhou is one of the hometowns of overseas Chinese especially Taiwanese compatriots while Xiamen is one of the five special economic zones of the province.