A young man who allegedly set off a homemade bomb that injured a U.S. student near Beijing's diplomatic compounds has been charged with endangering public security, a local court official said Wednesday.
Lei Sen, 22, is alleged to have used a mobile phone to remotely detonate the bomb in the parking lot of an office building in downtown Beijing's Dongzhimen area in October last year.
His motive was "to avenge a personal grudge against society," said a spokesman for Dongcheng District Court, citing prosecution files.
Dongzhimen is home to a many of the foreign embassies in Beijing and a busy area of the Chinese capital.
Lei allegedly assembled the bomb with firecrackers, wires, and a battery, and took it from a rented house in suburban Beijing to Dongzhimen by bus.
Witnesses said the explosion caused a mushroom-shaped smoke cloud and deafening noise. A U.S. student named Santeii Michael Charles received minor injuries to his right leg.
The court has not yet decided when to hear the case.
Under Chinese law, setting off a bomb that causes no serious damage or injuries can carry a jail term of up to 10 years.
Go to Forum >>0 Comments