A member of the special police reacts during an anti-terrorism drill in Hohhot, capital of north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, June 9, 2009. China on Tuesday started a national anti-terror exercise "Great Wall-6", which composes a series of specialized drills and will be carried out in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region and Shanxi and Hebei provinces. [Xinhua]

China held an anti-terrorism drill Tuesday afternoon to test its police forces' ability to handle a bomb containing radioactive contaminants.

The drill, held in northern Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region's capital Hohhot, kicks off a series of drills in the autonomous region, Shanxi and Hebei provinces that surround Beijing.

Members of the special police put on gas masks during an anti-terrorism drill in Hohhot, capital of north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, June 9, 2009. [Xinhua]

The exercise, codenamed "Great Wall-6", is aimed at improving the police forces' abilities to deal with possible terrorism attacks and other emergencies for the security of celebrations to be held in Beijing around Oct. 1 which marks the 60th founding anniversary of the People's Republic of China.

In the first drill, special policemen and armed policemen confronted "terrorists" in the city's square and the "terrorists" triggered the bombs which spread radioactive contaminants.

Members of the special police rescue a "victim" during an anti-terrorism drill in Hohhot, capital of north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, June 9, 2009. [Xinhua]

Through close cooperation with the city's health and environment authorities, the police forces successfully controlled the situation, according to the exercise's command headquarters.

The exercise will last through the middle of this month.

(Xinhua News Agency June 10, 2009)