China Blasts Near Communist Party Office Kill 1, Injure 8

Onlookers watch policemen working at the site of explosions outside the provincial headquarters of China`s ruling Communist Party in Taiyuan, Shanxi province. Photo by EPA/BGNES

A series of small explosions have killed one person near a local office of the ruling Communist Party in northern China.

The explosions happened around 7:40 AM on Wednesday morning in front of the Provincial Committee of the Communist Party in Taiyuan, the capital of Shanxi Province. One person was killed, and 8 more injured, reports the Xinhua agency.

A terrorist attack is not ruled out, as early reports suggest self-made bombs were used.

Local police have cordoned the scene of the blasts and has begun investigations.

Last week, 5 people were killed when a car crashed and exploded in Beijing's Tiananmen Square. Police suspect a terrorist plot, and arrested 5 persons in connection, all from the minority Muslim Uighur community, living in the western part of China.