Explosion at Beijing Capital International Airport Terminal 3; No Deaths, Flight Operations Normal

Updated 09:00am July 21, 2013
An explosion at Beijing Capital International Airport (BCIA) has injured the bomber and one bystander, according to Ifeng news. The attacker was a Shandong man in a wheelchair who was restricted from handing out protest fliers, according to a China News reporter. The attack caused no deaths.

The blast occurred on the the second floor of Terminal 3, near exit B in the main hall, close to international arrivals. Beijing resident Stephanie Kleine-Ahlbrandt, head of the International Crisis Group's office in Beijing, was at the airport at the time of the 6:30pm blast and said via Twitter "Huge explosion followed by panic, smoke and dust at Terminal 3."

Police cordoned off the 200-square-meter area that handles international, Taiwan and Hong Kong arrivals. Officials have identified the bomber as Ji Zhongxing, born in 1979.

At 8pm, BCIA stated that all smoke has been cleared from the area and Taiwan and Hong Kong arrivals have been diverted to the fourth floor. Operations at the airport are now running as usual.

When visited by a Beijinger editor at 10.30pm, Terminal 3 operations were normal. There was no smell of smoke in the terminal, nor any indication of the incident only hours before. Only an extra officer or two were visible, and neither cars nor individuals entering the airport grounds or Terminal 3 were subjected to any additional security procedures.

This is the second violence this week involving an individual claiming to be from Shandong province. On Wednesday evening, a man who claimed to be mentally ill and from Shandong province stabbed two pedestrians to death. One of those victims has been identified in some reports as being from the United States, but the U.S. Embassy in Beijing has not yet confirmed the victim's identity.

Stay with the Beijinger for further updates and details.

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