Explosion Rocks Dongzhimen

Yesterday afternoon an explosion in Dongzhimen outside Sky Plaza injured an American student, and caused the area around the blast to be cordoned off into the evening.

The Global Times reported this morning that the explosion occurred just after 3pm Thursday afternoon, and the injured student was taken to the hospital with a slight leg wound. No one else was injured, though those nearby mentioned ringing in their ears from the loud blast.

“Police refuse to speculate on the cause” of the explosion but a subway guard near the scene told the Global Times, “I saw gray smoke rising after the explosion and I smelled gunpowder in the air. It was probably a bomb.”

No other bombs or explosives were found at the scene and the reason behind the blast is unknown.