A week after Beijing authorities began scanning bags at three subway stations, security workers have deterred nine passengers carrying firecrackers, knives and inflammable chemicals, security workers said on Saturday.

Last Monday, two days before the eve of the Lunar Chinese New Year, a man carrying a cardboard box was seen trying to make his way into the downtown Dongzhimen subway station. He was denied entry after the newly installed X-ray detected firecrackers in the box.

Another passenger carrying fireworks was detected by a sniffer dog at the same station on Wednesday, said a spokesman with the public transport arm of Beijing Public Security Bureau.

He said more than 5,000 passengers had undergone security checks at the first three subway stations where security checks had been launched for a trial operation, namely Dongzhimen, Xizhimen and Datun, the site of the Olympic village.

Operators of Beijing subway said they plan to have all 90 stations equipped with security-checking facilities to guarantee security during the summer Olympics.

City authorities said the move was necessary in the Beijing subway, whose daily passenger throughput exceeds 3 million. Passengers trying to carry inflammable chemical or explosives onto subway trains are detected almost daily.

(Xinhua News Agency February 9, 2008)