BREAKING: Explosion Near US Embassy in Beijing
Reports are coming in via social media that there has been an explosion close to the US Embassy in Beijing. One picture posted by Jimmy Zhong, co-founder of IOST, on Twitter (@jimmyzhong_iost) shows smoke billowing from near or from over the embassy's green fence.
A video posted by Zhong several minutes later shows a one, if not two, people lying on the ground near the embassy's fence. The video also shows the area cordoned off as police and security personnel attend to the scene.
Reports from the scene say that Tianze Lu, the road that runs north from Liangmaqiao Lu, has now been completely blocked off and a security perimeter around the US Embassy has been established. It appears as though anyone who was present in the area during the explosion, including those people waiting for visa services etc., are unable to leave. There is currently no visible smoke and no audible sirens.
Additional reports from eyewitnesses at the scene via Radio Free Asia are stating that the explosion was the result of a man who tried to throw an explosive device over the US Embassy fence. The device exploded before it could clear the fence, injuring the perpetrator, and potentially one other person, as well as damaging a nearby police van. Staff at the embassy have reportedly been sent home for the day.
Other details are currently scarce but we will update this article as we hear more (tap on "Read more" at the bottom of this post for latest update).
Photos: Jimmy Zhong via Twitter (@jimmyzhong_iost)
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