A man in Beijing threw brass granules in a river in Fangshan District, which had just experienced floods, and fabricated the gimmick of “gold rush” to attract some nearby residents to go to?the river to prospect for gold, local police noted in a statement on Sunday. photo: Sina Weibo

A man in Beijing threw brass granules into a river in Fangshan District, which had just experienced floods. He fabricated the gimmick of the "gold rush" to attract some nearby residents to go to the river to prospect for gold, local police noted in a statement on Sunday.

A video circulating online shows many local villagers and even tourists gathering in the dried-up river to collect "gold", with some at the scene even offering 100 yuan per gram to buy these "gold".

The 26-year-old suspect, surnamed Wei, posted the rumor in order to boost the popularity of his personal social media accounts, police noted in the statement after investigation.

Heavy rainstorm hit western, southern and southwestern Beijing the hardest since July 29, with the average precipitation reached 257.9mm. Suburban Mentougou and Fangshang districts, the two suffered severest flooding, saw precipitation of 470.2mm and 414.6mm.

The rainfall intensity has far exceeded the level of July 21, 2012 when 79 lives were claimed across Beijing, half in Fangshan district. Video of the "gold rush" in Fangshan spread online and sparked social concern.

Wei's behavior has seriously disturbed the social order and caused adverse effects, and has been placed under criminal investigation by Fangshan police. The case is under further investigation at the moment.

Global Times