XUZHOU CITY, China (Reuters) — Authorities in the eastern Chinese city of Xuzhou said on Friday (June 16) that the chief suspect in a blast outside a kindergarten that killed eight people and wounded more than 60 others used a “homemade” explosive device, state media reported.
The suspect was identified by authorities as 22-year-old “Mr. Xu”, Vice Chief of Jiangsu’s Provincial Department of Public Security, Pei Jun, said at a news conference aired by state broadcaster CCTV.
Pei added that Xu, who was working near the kindergarten and on break from school due to a neurological disorder, had died in the blast at the scene. Police found the words “death” and “disappear” written on the walls of the room Xu had been renting, Pei said.
Blasts and other accidents are common in China because of patchy enforcement of safety rules, although the government has pledged to improve checks to stamp out such incidents.