China's police have confiscated more than 50,000 guns and nearly 900 tonnes of explosives in a crackdown during the past six months, the Ministry of Public Security (MPS) said Thursday.

Nearly 10,000 suspects have been arrested. The crackdown on explosives and gun-related crimes began in March and will continue until China's Oct. 1 National Day celebration, the ministry said.

The crackdown is part of an MPS campaign to maintain social stability during its National Day celebration. This year marks the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China.

The confiscation figures show a dramatic increase from a previous ministry report on July 20. Up to that time only 19,000 guns and 500 tonnes of explosives had been confiscated and 5,200 people were arrested.

"The report on July 20 only covered data collected from the end of April to July, whereas Thursday's report covered the entire campaign from March 1 to now," said an MPS director surnamed Cheng, who is running the crackdown.

Cheng said of the 50,000 guns more than 30,000, or 60 percent, had been handed in by the public voluntarily.

All the guns and explosives had been destroyed, he said.

Police also confiscated 3.74 million detonators and raided 562 illegal sites where guns and explosives were being made and modified.

Possession of guns by private individuals is illegal in China.

(Xinhua News Agency August 13, 2009)