Premium
This is an archive article published on July 27, 2018

Blast near US, Indian embassies in China, man held for detonating explosive device

Video footage of the blast showed smoke billowing from a building and police forming a cordon outside the blast radius.

LIVE UPDATES: Explosion outside US Embassy in Beijing Chinese security personnel stand outside the U.S. Embassy, in the background, after a reported blast occurred nearby in Beijing, Thursday, July 26, 2018. (AP Photo)

An explosion was reported outside the US embassy in Beijing on Thursday morning. No casualties were reported in the incident. The US embassy in Beijing confirmed the explosion outside the compound in the Chinese capital and said that there were no injuries to embassy staff.

“There was an explosion at approximately 1pm today in the public space off the southeast corner of the embassy compound. According to the embassy’s regional security officer, there was one individual who detonated a bomb. Other than the bomber, there were no injuries. The local police responded,” an embassy spokeswoman was quoted in the South China Morning Post.

The Beijing Police, however, pinned down the explosion to a man who set off a “suspected firecracker device”.

“At about 1pm on July 26, a man ignited a suspected firecracker device at the intersection of Tianze Road and Anjialou Road in Chaoyang District, causing a deflagration, causing his own hand injury. He is not in any life-threatening situation. The nearby patrol police was quickly deployed to the scene. The situation is under control and the man was sent to the hospital, and no other personnel were injured at the scene.”

The suspect has been identified as 26-year-old Jiang Moumou from Tongliao city, Inner Mongolia. Currently, the police are further investigating the case
Photos and videos circulating on social media showed smoke billowing from outside the Embassy which is surrounded by police personnel. The incident occurred in an area which has a number of embassies including the Indian embassy.

Beijing is considered one of the most secure cities because of its massive camera surveillance systems.

Chinese officials did not immediately comment on the incident but newspapers like Global Times put out reports soon after the incident, claiming that the incident was a self-immolation attempt by a Chinese woman who had been detained.

Story continues below this ad

The paper subsequently claimed that there was no clarity on whether the explosion and the detention of the woman were related.

Zeeshan Shaikh is the Associate Editor who heads The Indian Express' Mumbai reporting team. He is recognized for his highly specialized Expertise in analyzing the complex dynamics of Maharashtra politics and critical minority issues, providing in-depth, nuanced, and Trustworthy reports. Expertise  Senior Editorial Role: As an Associate Editor leading the Mumbai reporting team, Zeeshan Shaikh holds a position of significant Authority and journalistic responsibility at a leading national newspaper. Core Specialization: His reporting focuses intensely on two interconnected, high-impact areas: Maharashtra Politics & Urban Power Structures: Provides deep-dive analyses into political strategies, municipal elections (e.g., BMC polls), the history of alliances (e.g., Shiv Sena's shifting partners), and the changing demographics that influence civic power in Mumbai. Minority Issues and Socio-Political Trends: Excels in coverage of the Muslim community's representation in power, demographic shifts, socio-economic challenges, and the historical context of sensitive political and cultural issues (e.g., the 'Vande Mataram' debate's roots in the BMC). Investigative Depth: His articles frequently delve into the historical roots and contemporary consequences of major events, ranging from the rise of extremist groups in specific villages (e.g., Borivali-Padgha) to the long-term collapse of established political parties (e.g., Congress in Mumbai). Trustworthiness & Credibility Data-Driven Analysis: Zeeshan's work often incorporates empirical data, such as National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) statistics on arrests and convictions of minorities, or data on asset growth of politicians, grounding his reports in factual evidence. Focus on Hinterland Issues: While based in Mumbai, he maintains a wide lens, covering issues affecting the state's hinterlands, including water crises, infrastructure delays, and the plight of marginalized communities (e.g., manual scavengers). Institutional Affiliation: His senior position at The Indian Express—a publication known for its tradition of rigorous political and investigative journalism—underscores the high level of editorial vetting and Trustworthiness of his reports. He tweets @zeeshansahafi ... Read More

Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram

Latest Comment
Post Comment
Read Comments
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement