#Chinese toothpick crossbow stand set up cracked

The Chinese government has cracked down on these popular toys, with police now raiding toy shops to confiscate the devices, CNN reported.įish Fossil Real Comes from The Western Liaoning China 150 Million Years. So-called toothpick crossbows were designed to shoot just that - toothpicks - and in recent weeks became the must-have 'toy' for young children in Chinese schools.īut anxious parents said they feared the devices, made of plastic or metal and costing as little as five yuan (US$0.75), could end up blinding somebody after reports that people were swapping toothpicks for metal needles and iron nails. A total of 3,973 officers seized 528 crossbows in the Zhejiang province, according to CNN.

Now authorities have acted, according to the official Xinhua news agency, which declared late Thursday that the mini crossbow has 'vanished from shelves almost as fast as it emerged'. It quoted one worried Beijing parent surnamed Geng saying: 'This is more a time-bomb than a toy.' Taobao and JD.com, Chinas two most popular e-commerce sites, have responded in recent days by blocking sales. We originally came to check out the shop but stayed for lunch. Searches for 'crossbow' or 'toothpick crossbow' now return empty. Xinhua also quoted an unnamed inspector with the Beijing municipal bureau of commerce as warning: 'Kids are being watched by teachers and parents. Playing with such a toy will not be tolerated.

The crossbows have also been pulled from major shopping websites, the agency said, adding that only one injury had been reported in connection with the crossbows in all of China. In China, crossbows can only be carried around with a permit and failure to do so can result in five days behind bars and a 500 yuan fine, Xinhua said.

Chinese toothpick crossbow stand set up