China cops call Tiananmen Square car crash a terror attack, arrest 5 suspects

The vehicle which burst into flames after crashing into the railing at the Forbidden City entrance on Monday, carried containers filled with gasoline, besides knives and iron bars, state-run CCTV reported. Five suspects have been arrested, it said without revealing their identities. Earlier media reports said police were looking for eight suspects all from the Muslim Uighur-majority Xinjiang province, border Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (POK) and Afghanistan. Three persons, who were traveling in the car were killed along two other tourists in the incident. Thirty eight others were injured in what is now described as a full-blown terrorist attack on China’s most iconic landmark. The Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) bearing number plates from Xinjiang carried a flag and displayed extremist slogans, the report said. It appears that the militants wanted to create a big impact attacking China’s seat of power as well as the famous symbol of its ancient Chinese civilisation. Observers say that judging from the previous attacks in Xinjiang, the militants wanted to attack the crowds with knives and iron bars besides setting the place on fire.