Society

Man charged in bomb attack in Beijing

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2011-02-16 15:50

BEIJING - A young man who allegedly set off a homemade bomb that injured a US student near Beijing's diplomatic compounds has been charged with endangering public security, a local court official said Wednesday.

Lei Sen, 22, is alleged to have used a mobile phone to remotely detonate the bomb in the parking lot of an office building in downtown Beijing's Dongzhimen area in October last year.

His motive was "to avenge a personal grudge against society," said a spokesman for Dongcheng District Court, citing prosecution files.

Dongzhimen is home to a many of the foreign embassies in Beijing and a busy area of the Chinese capital.

Lei allegedly assembled the bomb with firecrackers, wires, and a battery, and took it from a rented house in suburban Beijing to Dongzhimen by bus.

Witnesses said the explosion caused a mushroom-shaped smoke cloud and deafening noise. A US student named Santeii Michael Charles received minor injuries to his right leg.

The court has not yet decided when to hear the case.

Under Chinese law, setting off a bomb that causes no serious damage or injuries can carry a jail term of up to 10 years.