Loud explosion heard at Beijing airport

Explosion that occurred about 10:30 GMT near international arrivals thought to have only injured alleged bomber.

China airport explosion
Airport staff denied knowledge of the explosion [Reuters]

A man in a wheelchair has set off a homemade bomb in Terminal 3 of the Beijing International Airport, injuring himself but no one else, Chinese state media reported.

State media reported that a man had detonated the bomb at about 6:30pm local time (10:30 GMT) on Saturday near the international arrivals section.

CCTV identified the alleged bomber as Ji Zhongxing, born in 1979, and from the eastern province of Shandong.

Police say the only injury seems to be the suspected bomber, who is being treated in hospital. 

State-run China Central Television (CCTV) reported that no-one else was injured and that no flights were affected.

It was not immediately clear why the man set off the bomb. 

Reached over the phone, the airport’s news office said it was not aware of the explosion, and airport police declined to answer questions.