Bombs off menu after blackmailer jailed

A failed businessman who blackmailed five Beijing restaurants with bomb and poisoning threats was sentenced to 4 and a half years in prison by Xicheng district court on Thursday.

The court heard that around 3 pm on Dec 22, the 33-year-old man, surnamed Wang, sent text messages to the managers of five restaurants, warning that if he did not receive money by 5 pm the following day, their restaurants would be targeted with bombs and poisonings.

In total, Wang asked for 240,000 yuan from the five restaurants. The largest request - 100,000 yuan - was made to the No 10 store of Haidilao Hotpot.