With the alarming numbers of deadly terrorist attacks almost everywhere around the world, China is training counterterrorism personnel to prepare for imminent extremist threats.

The People's Public Security University of China has started recruiting two classes with 80 students each since 2014 to master skills in counterterrorism and undergo additional specialized military training in weapons and intelligence gathering, according to China Daily.

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"We urgently need to train counterterrorism specialist to improve our preventive and terror-fighting capabilities to cope with serious terrorist incidents," Mei Jianming, director of the Counterterrorism Research Center at the university, said.

The People's Public Security University of China, which is the first to offer such profession, accepts students who pass the national university entrance exam and physical and psychological tests. The four-year counterterrorism program covers training in investigation, strategy, tactics, technology and international judicial cooperation.

"Attention will be given to their physical training and overall strategic research. They will also learn to use weapons, including submachine guns and sniper rifles," said Xu Meng, the university's physical training instructor.

The university has 30 senior professional instructors and continuously invites counterterrorism experts from Australia, Israel, Pakistan and the United States as visiting professors. It also sends few of its best students to participate on anti-terror training programs abroad.

Students who pass the course are given the privilege to join the counterterrorism departments of the Ministry of Public Security or in local public security units.

Since 2001, China has established a number of counterterrorism departments both at the national, provincial and municipal levels, but admitted that they are short of specialists.

"To tackle the increasing threat of terrorist attacks, it's more than necessary to enhance counterterrorism law enforcement cooperation with relevant countries, including the United States, Pakistan, Israel, Russia and some European countries," Mei said.

TagsTerrorist attack, counterterrorism, People's Public Security University of China, public security