Fast-food Blast Suspect Arrested in Xi'an

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Friday, June 20, 2003

Fast-food Blast Suspect Arrested in Xi'an

Police have detained a 28-year-old man suspected of setting off a small bomb in a McDonald's restaurant in Xi'an, in a failed extortion attempt."My motivation was to arouse attention,and I didn't think it would create such a large social impact."

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The man suspected of bombing a McDonald's restaurant in Xi'an in a failed bid to extort money from the fast food chain has been detained by police.

Xu Yonggang, 28, was arrested on Tuesday on a bus en route to Xi'an, where he is accused of detonating the bomb in the bathroom of a McDonald's in the center of the ancient imperial capital, local newspapers and television said.

He is being quizzed over the June 15 bombing of McDonald's in Xi'an, which caused serious damage to the property.

Police said the bomb was a crudely made device that had been planted in the men's toilet of the Gulou branch of the fast food chain in the city.

Police allege that Xu decided on the bombing after falling heavily into debt from playing the lottery for two years.

Xu sent threatening letters to four restaurants and supermarkets in the city on June 14, saying he would target them with explosives if they did not give him money, police claim.

All the restaurants and supermarkets reported the demands to the police and did not pay any cash.

Xu worked at a trading company in Xi'an. "My motivation was to arouse attention," he said in comments broadcast by the station. "I didn't think it would create such a large social impact." Xu said he would ask for leniency when his case goes to court.

According to local newspaper reports, Xu planted the bomb in an effort to extort 200,000 yuan ($24,400) from McDonald's to pay back debts incurred from playing the lottery.

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