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Blast at Beijing airport

July 20, 2013

Order has returned to Beijing International Airport after an explosion occurred in Terminal 3. The blast reportedly injured only the bomber.

https://p.dw.com/p/19B9n
In this photo released by China's Xinhua News Agency, medical workers and policemen work at the terminal 3 of the Beijing International Airport in Beijing, Saturday, July 20, 2013. Chinese state media said that a man set off a homemade bomb in Terminal 3 of the Beijing International Airport, but that no one besides the man was injured and order has been restored. (AP Photo/Xinhua, Chen Jianli) NO SALES
Explosion Flughafen Peking Terminal 3Image: picture-alliance/AP Photo

Airport police were investigating the cause of an attempted attack on Beijing airport Saturday evening local time.

A man in a wheelchair detonated a homemade device outside of an arrival gate in Terminal 3, according to state media. The offical Xinhua news agency reported that the explosion occurred shortly before 6:30 p.m. local time near an arrivals point.

Xinhua later identified the man as Ji Zhongxing from the eastern province of Shandong. Ji, who is believed to be in his early 30s, detonated the explosive after authorities prevented him from distributing leaflets. It was not immediately clear what the contents of the flyers were.

China Central Television posted photos of the scene on its micoblog, depicting emergency personnel in a smoke-filled room helping an unidentified person who was laying on the floor.

The blast injured only the bomber, according to both Chinese news agencies.

Officials declined to speculate about the motive behind the attack.

kms/ipj (AP, AFP, Reuters)