Explosion hits airport in China’s northwest

Explosion hits Chinese airport. Photo courtesy of Joe MacDonald via Twitter.

BEIJING — An explosion Tuesday in a parking structure at an airport in China’s northwest caused slight injuries to an employee who was hit by debris but no one else was hurt, news reports said.

The explosion occurred at about 1:45 p.m. in a structure outside the airport in Xining, capital of Qinghai province, prompting police to seal off the area and send in a bomb squad, the newspaper China Youth Daily said on its website. Another newspaper, Beijing Times, said a cleaner was slightly injured by flying debris but no one else was hurt.

The incident came at a time when Chinese authorities are on edge following a series of violent attacks blamed on Muslim extremists. They have stepped up security at airports and train stations.

A woman who answered the phone at Xining police headquarters confirmed an explosion occurred but refused to say whether there were any injuries or disruption to airport activities.

She refused to give her name.

The Beijing Times said the airport was operating normally.

Photos on the China Youth Daily website showed police at the airport and one man with a rifle and a helmet but no signs of damage.