Tensions mount as police grab protesters in China

Chinese police officers stand guard while people gather to protest the proposed expansion of a petrochemical factory that they say would spew pollution and damage public health, in Ningbo, Zhejiang province, China Saturday, Oct. 27, 2012. AP

NINGBO, China – About 200 riot police officers have marched toward crowds of people and seized some demonstrators protesting over a chemical factory in an eastern Chinese city.

The officers who had been sitting inside the gate of the Ningbo city government offices put on their helmets and came outside of the compound, where hundreds of protesters were gathered Sunday.

They tore down banners that people had hung up in trees and grabbed at least three protesters. They carried them into the government compound.

People threw plastic bottles in response and shouted “Release the people” over and over again.

Earlier Sunday, the protesters’ mood was fairly cheerful. On Saturday, thousands of residents clashed with police while demonstrating against the proposed expansion of the petrochemical factory because of pollution fears.