Travellers flee in terror as ranting man in wheelchair 'uses home-made bomb to blows himself up' at Beijing Airport

Mike Gallagher

Jul 20, 2013 - 08:24

Jul 20, 2013 - 08:30

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Travellers flee in terror as ranting man in wheelchair 'uses home-made bomb to blows himself up' at Beijing Airport

Photographs that emerged in the wake of the blast at the Chinese airport today show a man in a wheelchair brandishing something in his hand in the arrivals hall (seen left), and crowds stopping to stare as billowing smoke fills the terminal. State media i

A MAN in a wheelchair ignited a home-made bomb outside an arrivals exit at Beijing's inteational airport, injuring himself but no others.

The official Xinhua News Agency cited witnesses in reporting that the explosion was heard at 6.24pm local time on Saturday, but gave no further details.

State-run China Central Television said on its microblog that the man was injured and sent to a hospital after setting off the bomb in Terminal 3 of the airport.

It says no one else was injured, no flights were affected and order has been restored at the airport.

One photo showed several security and cleaning staff attending to someone on the ground, with an overtued wheelchair lying nearby.

Another, supposedly taken shortly before the blast, showed a man in a short-sleeved shirt sitting in a wheelchair waving his arms in the air, with a white object in one hand, as if in protest. The online user who posted the photo identified the man as the possible victim, but his identity is still unknown.

Photos carried on Xinhua's website carried captions citing witnesses as saying that a disabled person had ignited bombs on himself.

Reached over the phone, the airport's news office said it was not aware of the explosion, and airport police declined to answer questions.

$\"Explosion:$

Explosion: Photographs emerged online in the wake of the blast of a man in a wheelchair waving his arms in the air at Beijing Airport

$\"Panic:$

Panic: Clouds of smoke filled the arrivals hall today after the man set off a home-made bomb in the busy airport

$\"Hospitalised:$

Hospitalised: This picture released by China's Xinhua agency shows police and paramedics attending to the man at Terminal 3

$\"Blast:$

Blast: Smoke could be seen billowing over the heads of crowds making their way through the terminal today

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Mike Gallagher Mike Gallagher is a Georgia-based freelance journalist covering local news, community developments, and regional issues that matter most to residents across the state. Writing for Georgianewsday.com since 2016, Mike has built a reputation for clear, balanced reporting and a strong connection to the communities he serves. His work spans city council decisions, school board updates, small business features, public safety reports, and statewide policy changes. In addition to local coverage, Mike occasionally reports on state politics and national headlines, offering readers context on how broader decisions impact Georgia communities. Known for his steady, fact-driven approach, Mike prioritizes accuracy, fairness, and accessibility in every story. Whether covering a town hall meeting or breaking political developments, he aims to inform readers with clarity and integrity. Outside the newsroom, Mike remains actively engaged in Georgia’s civic landscape, always seeking the next story that shapes the state’s future.