Beijing airport bomber detained in unknown location
Wheelchair-bound petitioner reportedly detained after undergoing surgery with his family unaware of his location or charges he faces
The wheelchair-bound petitioner who detonated a home-made bomb in protest at Beijing's international airport on Saturday is under criminal detention, mainland media report, while his family say they have lost contact with him.
"My brother was so miserable with his injustices, and now, we don't know where he is and what he was arrested for," Ji Zhongji, elder brother of bomber Ji Zhongxing, told the Post yesterday.
My brother was so miserable with his injustices, and now, we don't know where he is and what he was arrested for
Ji, a 34-year-old native of Shandong province, had petitioned authorities in Beijing, Guangdong and Shandong for eight years over the crippling injuries he claimed to have suffered as a result of police brutality in Dongguan in 2005. He set off the device packed with gunpowder from fireworks in Terminal 3 of Beijing Capital International Airport. He survived the blast but had his left hand amputated. There were no other injuries.
At about midnight yesterday, after surgery at Jishuitan Hospital, he was taken away in an ambulance under police escort to an unknown destination, Shanghai Daily reported.
Video: Beijing airport explosion (WARNING: Video contains graphic images)
The Beijing News reported that police had detained Ji while they investigated how he arrived at Beijing airport from Shandong, how and when he made the explosives and whether he had an accomplice. But the report said police refused to discuss his case further. Beijing police could not be reached for comment.