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US tourist is 'killed in Beijing' | US tourist is 'killed in Beijing' |
(about 1 hour later) | |
A US tourist has been killed in central Beijing after being attacked by a Chinese man, officials have said. | A US tourist has been killed in central Beijing after being attacked by a Chinese man, officials have said. |
The man attacked two tourists and their tour guide as they visited the capital's ancient Drum Tower monument, injuring the second tourist and guide. | The man attacked two tourists and their tour guide as they visited the capital's ancient Drum Tower monument, injuring the second tourist and guide. |
The assailant then committed suicide by jumping off the second storey of the monument, officials said. No motive has been given for the attack. | |
Officials have named the man as 47-year-old Tang Yongming. | |
The city's municipal government said the attack happened at around midday local time on the first full day of Olympic competition. | The city's municipal government said the attack happened at around midday local time on the first full day of Olympic competition. |
High security | |
The BBC's Quentin Sommerville in Beijing says China is a very low-crime society and it is very rare for a murder to be committed in broad daylight, particularly one targeting foreigners. | |
A witness told the AFP news agency that he had seen a large number of police officers and forensic scientists on the scene afterwards. | |
China has deployed massive security in the capital for the Olympics, with more than 150,000 police and other personnel on patrol. | |
An estimated 450,000 foreign tourists are expected to be in Beijing for the games, which opened with a lavish ceremony on Friday evening. | |
The attack happened the day before US President George W Bush - in Beijing to attend the Games - is due to meet Chinese President Hu Jintao. | |
A US embassy spokesman said he was aware of the reports of the attack. | |
"I can tell you that we are working with the family and the Chinese authorities as we speak," Richard Buangan told AFP. |