China’s eastern city of Ningbo detained more than 50 people over violent protests last week that successfully blocked a planned chemical plant, state media said on Tuesday.
Ningbo city said on Sunday that work on the 55.9-billion-yuan (US$8.9 billion) oil and petrochemical complex would stop after thousands of local residents clashed with police in a week-long protest over pollution fears.
Police detained 51 people who clashed with police last Friday, throwing stones and overturning two vehicles, the Ningbo Daily said on Tuesday.
Of the 51, 13 were deemed criminal suspects, the newspaper said, meaning they could face prosecution. Police could not be reached for comment on the report.
Authorities detained another man, who was found carrying a knife, during protests on Sunday evening, said the report, which quoted Ningbo city officials.
Separately, authorities also detained a woman for spreading false rumours that a university student died in the protests, police said in a separate statement.
