国内英语新闻:Chinese police continue hunt for suspect in armed robbery

NANJING, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- Police authorities in China's eastern Jiangsu Province on Sunday intensified their search for the suspect in an armed robbery in the province.

Police have increased patrol and initiated a blanket search for the male suspect, who shot and robbed a man in front of a bank in Nanjing, the provincial capital, on Friday, the provincial public security bureau said in a statement.

In Nanjing, special armed police and police cars have blocked major roads, with many others searching in public places. Two helicopters are used to facilitate the search.

The provincial police authorities also offered a reward of 100,000 yuan (15,850 U.S. dollars) for information leading to the arrest of the man believed to be in his 40s.

The suspect shot a man who had just finished withdrawing 200,000 yuan in front of a bank on Nanjing's Dongmen Street at 9:50 a.m. Friday. The robber then took the money and hopped in a car that sped away from the scene of the crime, Pei Jun, deputy chief of the Nanjing public security bureau, said Friday.

Pei said the suspect is believed to have used a gun to kill six people and injure another two in six robberies that took place in Changsha, capital of Hunan Province, and Chongqing municipality since 2004.

Firearm possession is illegal in China.