Authorities in eastern China have halted plans to build a rubbish incinerator after rowdy street protests by residents and the arrests of four people.
The Haiyan county government in Zhejiang province said in a statement on Friday that hundreds of residents began to gather illegally on Wednesday and blocked roads.
The demonstration escalated on Thursday evening when the mob attacked a local government building, smashing objects and causing injuries to police and bystanders, it said.
A 19-year-old woman was detained on charges of spreading unverified gory pictures and videos on the internet showing protesters beaten by police, which were viewed more than 5000 times.
Another person was also detained for spreading rumours and two others were detained for disrupting public orders, including a woman charged with spreading insults against local officials, the government said.
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The Haiyan government first revealed plans for the incinerator project on April 12, saying it was needed to help dispose of the 450 tonnes of solid waste that residents are generating every day.
No reason was given for the cancellation.
There have been a growing number of protests in recent years against incinerators, chemical plants and other projects believed to threaten the environment and living conditions.
Those have generally been permitted despite the ruling Communist Party's pervasive crackdown on independent organisers and political critics, although arrests often follow once demonstrations die down.
