Passengers pass through the security check at Xidan Subway Station Wednesday. Photo: Li Hao/GT |
A day after Beijing firefighters announced citywide safety inspections on gas canisters in restaurants, a man was allowed to enter the subway system carrying a leaky gas canister without being questioned by security staff.
Experts and residents have criticized the subway operator, saying the failure in security had potentially put lives at risk, and Beijing Subway Company should take responsibility for the lapse.
Beijing resident Diao Jia told the Global Times Wednesday that he smelt gas immediately he boarded the train as he was on his way to work at a sports company Tuesday morning.
Diao, who got on at Huixinxijiebeikou Subway Station on Line 5, said he could smell the gas from 5 meters away.
"I then noticed gas leaking from a gas canister. It's a dangerous article not supposed to be on the train," he said.
But when he asked the man to get off, the man refused.
Diao posted pictures of the man, who remains unidentified, on his Sina microblog Tuesday. The post drew over a thousand reposts and hundreds of comments, with Web users condemning the standard of security checks on the subway.
"It's way too dangerous. It will be too late to strengthen subway security only after there is an explosion," posted Web user "Bangshuiren9919" on Sina on Wednesday.
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