Ex-convict detained over blasts outside government buildings in Shanxi

According to Xinhua, a 41 year old Shanxi man, Feng Zhijun, has been detained by police as part of an investigation into explosions which killed one person and injured eight in Taiyuan this week. 

Feng confessed to setting off the bombs near the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) headquarters in the city on Wednesday, police say. The ex-convict was arrested at 2am on Friday, according to the Public Security Department (PSB) of Shanxi. 

When police raided Feng's house, they reportedly found other homemade bombs and seized a vehicle he was believed to have been driving at the time of the explosions (previously identified as a black Santana).

Several bombs went off early on Wednesday morning, photos from the scene showed how the blasts shattered many car windows. Large ball bearings were used in the bombs, apparently in an attempt to inflict as much damage as possible.

Feng had previously served nine years in prison for theft. The motive behind the attack is currently unclear.

[Image via Xinhua]