Suspect posted 59 toy bombs to clients in Beijing, Nanjing and Shanghai, triggering bomb-squad deployments and evacuations
Chinese police have arrested the head of a creative design firm in Shanghai for posting toy explosives to his clients as Children's Day gifts that resulted in bomb-squad deployments and evacuations.
The suspect, a 32-year-old man named Liu, bought 60 toy bombs on the internet and sent most of them on 2 June, posting 51 to Shanghai, one to Nanjing and seven to Beijing, the state-run Global Times newspaper reported on Thursday. He was arrested in Shanghai on Monday night and will be charged with spreading false and dangerous substances, an officer told the newspaper.
On Monday, employees at a magazine in Xuanwu district, Nanjing, told the police they had received a bomb in the post. A bomb squad was immediately dispatched and evacuated hundreds of nearby residents before discovering the device was a hoax.
The following day, the Sanlian Life Weekly magazine in Beijing also reported receiving a bomb. "More than 30 police officers arrived at the scene and, upon examination, it was discovered that the bomb had no explosive charges," the China Daily newspaper reported.
"We were trying to make contact with Shanghai and Beijing to inform the local police when Sanlian Life Weekly found the bomb," a Nanjing police officer told the Global Times, adding that the force was making every effort to trace the person who sold the devices.
Chinese law states that anyone who knowingly fabricates threats of explosions could face up to five years in jail, China Daily reported.
A lawyer told the Global Times Liu's punishment depended on whether police were able to determine that he had intended to cause harm.
Liu reportedly apologised for his actions and claimed he did not know the toy explosives would cause such a stir. Reported by guardian.co.uk 4 minutes ago.
Chinese police have arrested the head of a creative design firm in Shanghai for posting toy explosives to his clients as Children's Day gifts that resulted in bomb-squad deployments and evacuations.
The suspect, a 32-year-old man named Liu, bought 60 toy bombs on the internet and sent most of them on 2 June, posting 51 to Shanghai, one to Nanjing and seven to Beijing, the state-run Global Times newspaper reported on Thursday. He was arrested in Shanghai on Monday night and will be charged with spreading false and dangerous substances, an officer told the newspaper.
On Monday, employees at a magazine in Xuanwu district, Nanjing, told the police they had received a bomb in the post. A bomb squad was immediately dispatched and evacuated hundreds of nearby residents before discovering the device was a hoax.
The following day, the Sanlian Life Weekly magazine in Beijing also reported receiving a bomb. "More than 30 police officers arrived at the scene and, upon examination, it was discovered that the bomb had no explosive charges," the China Daily newspaper reported.
"We were trying to make contact with Shanghai and Beijing to inform the local police when Sanlian Life Weekly found the bomb," a Nanjing police officer told the Global Times, adding that the force was making every effort to trace the person who sold the devices.
Chinese law states that anyone who knowingly fabricates threats of explosions could face up to five years in jail, China Daily reported.
A lawyer told the Global Times Liu's punishment depended on whether police were able to determine that he had intended to cause harm.
Liu reportedly apologised for his actions and claimed he did not know the toy explosives would cause such a stir. Reported by guardian.co.uk 4 minutes ago.