BEIJING - Crimes involving guns or explosives in China are at their lowest level for more than a decade, police said on Friday.

The numbers of such crimes have dropped for 14 consecutive years, according to a statement issued by the Ministry of Public Security.

The statement reiterated "zero tolerance" to terrorism combined with gun or explosive-related crimes.

Police in 2014 solved 16,000 guns or explosive cases and arrested 18,000 suspects. A total of 198 criminal gangs were busted and 530 sites manufacturing or selling illegal arms were closed down.

About 154,000 illegal or imitation guns, 2.35 million illegal knives, 10.7 million bullets, 1,880 tonnes of explosives and 4.48 million detonators were seized.

The police also found crime clues via extensive use of websites, online forums, blogs and instant messaging services and closed or reported about 15,000 websites for violations.

The statement further encouraged the public to report suspected crimes.