THE police have cracked a serious criminal case involving 10 suspects who gathered crowds for illegal demonstrations and assaulted the police in early October in the eastern province of Shandong.

The police have charged the suspects with obstructing official business, intentional injury, disrupting public order and causing disturbances.

The incident, which took place from Oct. 4 to 7 in Pingdu City of Shandong, saw some 300 people gathered at a local square where some 60 assaulted police and smashed a police van and three civilian vehicles over about 11 minutes.

The rioters used wood sticks, sledgehammer handles, pickaxe handles and dry powder fire extinguishers during the riot.

A total of 34 policemen and others were injured during the disturbance, and over 100 business outlets were forced to close, according to local authorities.

The police later found that the suspects used the Internet and telephones to gather the crowds in the name of “military veterans.” They tried to gain support by spreading fake information about being “beaten” by local authorities.

Some of the suspects have been detained or imprisoned in the past for obstructing official business, causing disturbances, drug abuse, theft and swindling. (Xinhua)