A human rights expert is raising doubts about the latest terrorist plot uncovered by Chinese police ahead of the Beijing games.
82 people have been arrested over the planned attack, which was to target Shanghai Stadium where the Olyroos will begin their Olympic campaign.
But Nicholas Bequelin from Human Rights Watch says the Government has been known to arrest dissidents and accuse them of terrorism.
“The Chinese government presents very little evidence for claims of domestic terrorist plots against the Olympics," he told LIVENEWS.com.au.
“On the other hand it also actively conflates political or religious dissent, particularly in the Muslim province of Xinjiang."
Earlier
Police in Shanghai claim they've cracked a terrorist cell, planning to attack an Olympic football venue in the Chinese financial hub.
The report, from Chinese state media, comes as China ramps up security ahead of the Olympics beginning on August 8 in Beijing, and several other cities including Shanghai.
Officials have described the plans as an unprecedented terror threat.
An official quoted by the media says authorities have obtained information that international terrorist organisations plan to launch an attack against an Olympic venue in the city during the Games.
The official says there have been a number of raids to crack down on a group of terrorists, but didn't say when and where the operation took place.
"We have obtained information that international terrorist organisations would likely launch an attack against an Olympic venue in the city during the Games," Xinhua news agency quoted the head of Shanghai's Olympic security office, Cheng Jiulong, as saying.
"We have staged raids and cracked a group of terrorists."