A lone assailant was killed and five others were wounded in a powerful explosion when the unidentified assailant drove an explosive-laden car and tried to crash it into the the Chinese embassy here in the Kyrgyz capital city on Tuesday morning.

The attack took place at around 10:00 a.m. local time on Tuesday (0400GMT). The unidentified assailant drove a Mitsubishi car and rammed the gate of the Chinese embassy compound in Bishkek, causing a big explosion, killing himself and wounding two security guards and three local people working at the embassy.

The explosion also caused damage to the embassy door and wall, as well as buildings next to the Chinese embassy.

The embassy compound and the area in the vicinity are currently under police blockade due to security concerns, with bomb disposal experts working on the scene.

A senior Kyrgyz security officer told Xinhua that according to preliminary information, it was quite likely that the explosives planted inside the car caused the explosion, and Kyrgyz police are now investigating the identity of the assailant.