More than 10,000 armed police officers in Nanjing are searching for a man in connection with a series of shootings over the past eight years after the suspect shot and killed a man in broad daylight last Friday, according to Chinese state media. From the People’s Daily:
In a blanket search effort, about 13,000 police officers in Jiangsu’s provincial capital, remained on the alert during the weekend to hunt down Zeng Kaigui, suspected to have killed a man who withdrew money from a bank and robbed 200,000 yuan ($31,700) cash on Friday.
Intense patrolling and screening was carried out in major roads, train stations, bus stops and ports. Internet cafes, hotels and other sites frequented by the migrant population were being searched meticulously.
Two police helicopters were put into service as part of the search.
The Telegraph reported that officials believe the 42-year-old Zeng, who once served in the army’s armed police, carried out six other armed robberies in two cities between 2004 and 2011. Crime rates often increase during the Chinese New Year holiday period, though gun violence is still rare in a country with extremely strict laws on private gun ownership. The Global Times reported that local authorities in Nanjing have offered a bounty of RMB 100,000 for any information about the suspect’s whereabouts, and RMB 1 million for his capture:
The Nanjing police told the Beijing News that as of yesterday, they have received 300 telephone calls providing clues, and investigators are working on the information.
“A mobile phone message attached with a photo of the suspect was also sent to residents in Nanjing, warning them of the potential risks and asking the public for clues to hunt down the man,” LiuCanhui, a doctor in Nanjing, told the Global Times yesterday.
The atmosphere in the city is “kind of tense,” Liu said. “But I’m not afraid though, the whole city is after the guy.”
Shanghai Daily reported that police revealed two short surveillance video clips showing the suspect, adding that the total bounty offered by public security officials in several cities has reached RMB 2.45 million.
