Security increased ahead of the 20th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square incident

Chinese authorities began increasing security ahead of the 20th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square incident on 4 June. The Chinese government initially shut down Internet access to the peer-to-peer sharing site Twitter, as well as email services and photo sharing sites. Reports indicate that more than 6,000 other Web sites are currently under the control of the Chinese government, with some shut down until 6 June. Police vans were also reportedly deployed around the square as paramilitary forces began patrolling the city. Many police officers were dressed in civilian clothes in order to blend into the tourist crowd. Ahead of the anniversary, the government has also rounded up more than 30 dissidents related to the protests. In an announcement on 3 June, Chinese authorities banned foreign media from the immediate vicinity of the Tiananmen Square, and broadcast news reports touching upon the subject of the 1989 student-led protest have been blacked out. Journalists who have attempted to film the square have been detained for creating disturbances. Tens of thousands of protesters are slated to arrive in Hong Kong, where the anniversary is openly commemorated.