1 dead, 3 hurt in suicide blast at China’s Kyrgyzstan embassy

A van driven by a suicide bomber exploded after ramming through a gate at the Chinese embassy in Kyrgyzstan on Tuesday, wounding three persons, authorities said. “As a result of the explosion, only the suicide bomber terrorist died. Security guards were injured,” Kyrgyzstan’s Deputy Prime Minister Jenish Razakov said.

Razakov said the three wounded were all Kyrgyz employees of the Chinese embassy and were taken to hospital. Doctors said their injuries were not serious.

Police sources said a Mitsubishi Delica van smashed through a gate at the embassy in the morning, before blowing up in the centre of the compound close to the ambassador’s residence.

A police source confirmed that the vehicle was driven by a suicide bomber and described the incident as a “terrorist attack”. Body parts thought to be from the attacker were found several hundred metres from the blast site, a source said. The security service of the ex-Soviet Central Asian nation – which borders China – said an “explosive device” had been placed inside the vehicle, an official said.

Residents said that the blast had blown in their windows and caused their houses to shake.