China bans toothpick crossbow 'toy' amid parents' safety fears
The devices are outlawed across the country and toy shops raided by officials after concerns a child could be blinded.
Friday 30 June 2017 13:05, UK
A mini crossbow popular with children in China has been banned by the authorities after it emerged it could fire nails and needles.
The handheld "toy", which had been designed to shoot toothpicks, was the focus of a craze in Chinese schools.
However, worried partners had been pressing for a nationwide ban, amid concerns youngsters were loading the device with needles and other sharp metal objects, which could end up blinding someone.
China's Xinhua news agency quoted one parent as saying: "This is more a time-bomb than a toy."
Raids have been carried out on toy shops across the country to enforce the ban, according to state media.
An official said the crossbow, which could cost as little as five yuan (57p), had "vanished from shelves almost as fast as it emerged".
Xinhua also quoted an unnamed inspector with the Beijing municipal bureau of commerce, who said: "Playing with such a toy will not be tolerated. It is too dangerous."
The crossbows have also been pulled from online stores, the agency said, and added only one injury had been reported in connection with the device across the whole country.