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Chinese embassy in Kyrgyzstan attacked in suicide car bombing

(Xinhua)    19:41, August 30, 2016

BISHKEK, Aug. 30 -- The Chinese embassy in Kyrgyzstan was attacked Tuesday morning by a suicide car bomber, in which the lone assailant was killed and five others were wounded besides serious material damage.

In staging the car bomb attack, the unidentified assailant drove a Mitsubishi Delica van and parked at the west gate of the Chinese embassy at 9:28 a.m. local time (0328 GMT). At around 9:31 a.m. (0331 GMT), another car arrived at the same place and parked there. The relation between the two cars is yet to be established, a local security official told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.

At 9:32 a.m. (0332 GMT), the explosive-laden van started ramming the embassy door and crashed into the compound. The driver immediately detonated the explosive device packed in the van, causing a powerful explosion, killing himself and wounding two security guards and three local people working at the embassy. The explosion was equivalent to 100 kg of TNT, the official said.

"As a result of the explosion, only the suicide bomber terrorist died. Security guards were injured," Kyrgyzstan's Deputy Prime Minister Jenish Razakov told reporters after the blast.

The wounded have only suffered minor injuries, and are currently under treatment at the hospital.

Razakov also called the attack as a "terrorist act."

The bomber has been blown into pieces, and local police are trying to identify the assailant using DNA extracted from remains of the attacker.

The explosion also caused damage to the embassy's east door and walls, as well as buildings next to the Chinese embassy.

The embassy compound and the area in the vicinity are currently under police blockade due to security concerns, with bomb disposal experts working on the scene.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry immediately expressed shock at the attack. It strongly condemned the car bombing, and required Kyrgyzstan to "take immediate and necessary measures to ensure the safety of Chinese people and institutions," according to Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying.

She also urged the Kyrgyz side to investigate the bombing and bring the perpetrators to justice.

The attack occurred one day before Kyrgyzstan celebrates the 25th anniversary of independence from the former Soviet Union. On Tuesday, Razakov convened a security meeting to discuss heightened security measures for the Independence Day celebrations.

(For the latest China news, Please follow People's Daily on Twitter and Facebook)(Editor: Kong Defang,Bianji)

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