In pictures: explosions occur in Taiyuan

One person was killed and eight others were injured after explosions occurred on Wednesday morning in front of the office building of the Shanxi Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China, local police said.

The blasts took place at around 7:40 a.m. on the Yingze Street in the provincial capital of Taiyuan, according to the city's public security bureau.

Among the eight injured, one was seriously wounded.

A big bang was heard and heavy smoke and flames were seen when Liu Guoliang, a witness, was driving from west to east on the Yingze overpass.

Liu saw a minivan blasted with heavy smoke and spread a lot of debris at the scene when he waited for traffic lights in front of the office building.

The accident is suspected to be caused by self-made bombs as steel beads were scattered at the scene, according to a Xinhua reporter.

The site of accident has been cordoned. Police are investigating the case.