Jul 22, 2015, afternoon.

Dozens of western models dressed as Spartan warriors were taken away by Beijing police on Wednesday for "disturbing public order" according to local reports.

The models, dressed to resemble characters from the US blockbuster "300" were taking part in a publicity stunt organized by local restaurant Sweetie Salad.

Publicity video footage shows the salad-wielding warriors delivering food from Sweetie Salad’s office to Jianwai SOHO via Beijing’s iconic CCTV Headquarters.

It would appear the scantily clad delivery men ran into trouble at the shopping and entertainment district of Sanlitun, however, as photos uploaded and spreading quickly via social media show several models held down by police at a pedestrian bridge abutting the Sanlitun SOHO shopping mall.

While some Netizens have admired the photographs of buff western men, a report in the English-language version of the Global Times attracted a large number of critical comments. “Foreigners arrested for disturbing the peace should be deported forthwith.” Wrote user Liang5a in jingoistic language not atypical of readers of China's nationalistic press.

Several media reports have noted the similarities between this aborted event and a similar publicity stunt which saw an army of Spartans invade the London Underground to promote the release of fantasy war film “300: Rise of An Empire” on DVD.