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Blast reported in Beijing near US embassy Beijing blast: Small explosive device set off near US embassy
(35 minutes later)
An explosion has been reported close to the US embassy in central Beijing, according to multiple eyewitness reports on social media. A man has set off a small explosive device close to the US embassy in Beijing, officials have confirmed.
Video and images posted show smoke rising from the vicinity of the embassy in the heart of the Chinese capital, with crowds gathering. Apart from the bomber, there were no other injuries reported and officials say police responded immediately.
The Chinese government has yet to confirm an incident and no casualties have been reported. Video and images posted on social media show smoke rising from the vicinity of the embassy in the heart of the Chinese capital with crowds gathering.
The exact cause of the reported blast is not yet clear. State media outlet Global Times tweeted that local residents had heard a "thunder-like bang".
Several witnesses told Reuters news agency they heard an explosion and felt tremors. A statement from the US embassy in Beijing said that the bomb had exploded at around 1300 local time (0500 GMT) at the south-east corner of the compound.
State media outlet Global Times tweeted that police had taken away a woman who had tried to set herself on fire near the embassy at 11am local time, several hours before the reported blast. Beijing police described it as a "suspected firecracker device" which caused a fire. The bomber injured his hand during the incident but there was no danger to his life and he was immediately sent to hospital.
The BBC's Stephen McDonell at the scene says that normal activities have since resumed at the embassy, with people still lining up for visa applications.
There were earlier reports that police had taken away a woman who had tried to set herself on fire near the embassy at 1100 local time, several hours before the reported blast.
It is unclear if the two incidents were linked.It is unclear if the two incidents were linked.