Explosion outside near US Embassy in Beijing
Beijing, July 26: An explosive was detonated on a street outside the US Embassy in Beijing on Thursday, close to the main compound, rattling the diplomatically sensitive area in the capital.
The blast happened around 1 p.m. outside the Embassy in Beijing's Chaoyang district and was heard blocks away. The police said a 26-year-old man set off a device made from fireworks that injured his hand, the New York Times reported.
The bomber surnamed Jiang Moumou was detained and sent to a hospital. His injuries were not life threatening and no one else was hurt, police said, adding he is from Inner Mongolia.
"There was one individual who detonated a bomb. Other than the bomber, there were no injuries and there was no damage to Embassy property. The local police responded," the US Embassy spokesperson said in a statement.
State media outlet Global Times tweeted that local residents had heard a "thunder-like bang". Video and images posted on social media showed smoke rising from the vicinity of the Embassy in the heart of the Chinese capital with crowds gathering.
The street in front of the Embassy, Tianze Road, which is also near the embassies of India and Israel, was closed for about an hour after the blast. Soon after the street reopened, a new line began to form outside the Embassy compound.
Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesman Geng Shuang called the explosion an "isolated security incident".
"Chinese police have dealt with it in a timely and proper manner," he said.
A visa agent, who said he was about 30 feet away when the blast occurred, said the source appeared to be an explosive device, set off by a man who had been trying to call attention to a human rights issue.
Earlier in the day, the police arrested a woman spraying petrol on herself in a suspected attempt at self-immolation. It was not clear whether the two incidents were related.
Attacks on sites in the Chinese capital are rare. The most serious incident in recent years saw a car ploughing into a crowd at Tiananmen Square in 2013, killing five people including the attackers.
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BJP backs Amit Thackeray for Mahim, over Shinde Sena's candidate Sarvankar
Mumbai: The BJP has decided to support Amit Thackeray, son of Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray, for the Mahim constituency, despite its alliance with Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena, which has fielded sitting MLA Sada Sarvankar. The decision has led to a three-way contest between Amit Thackeray, Sarvankar, and Shiv Sena (UBT)'s Mahesh Sawant in the upcoming Maharashtra assembly election on November 20.
The BJP reportedly expected Shinde’s Shiv Sena to withdraw Sarvankar in favour of Amit Thackeray, but Shiv Sena leaders argue this would risk losing votes to the Uddhav faction. Sarvankar, a three-time MLA and long-time Shiv Sena loyalist, appealed to Raj Thackeray to reconsider his son’s candidature, citing his commitment to the party under Bal Thackeray's leadership.
Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis confirmed BJP's support for Amit Thackeray, while indicating ongoing discussions with Shinde Sena leaders. Amid the standoff, Raj Thackeray maintained confidence that the next government will be led by the BJP, with support from MNS, though MNS is not formally part of the Mahayuti alliance.
