China blast probe examines possible army link

Investigators believe the bombs were planted by explosives professionals

By Willy Wo-Lap Lam
CNN.com Senior China Analyst

HONG KONG, China -- Authorities investigating the multiple explosions in the Chinese city of Shijiazhuang, Hebei province last week are looking at the possible involvement of former military personnel.

A security source in Beijing said a senior member of the special investigation team sent by the central government was an intelligence expert from the Army's General Staff Department.

The team is headed by a Vice Minister of Public Security Yang Huanning.

"Preliminary findings have shown the four blasts were planned and executed by professionals with special training in explosives," the source said.

QUOTE "The four blasts were planned and executed by professionals"

"Explosives can easily be found in many provinces. But the sophisticated way the detonations were planned was rare."

He added Beijing decided to send an army investigator partly because there had been a few explosions in Shaanxi and Sichuan provinces earlier this year that were set off by disgruntled former soldiers.

The official media have, however, continued to pin the blame on a deaf local resident, Jin Ruchao, who was wanted by police for the suspected murder of his girl friend earlier this month.

Explosive sales

At least one apartment of Jin and one other of his relatives were located in buildings destroyed by the four blasts, which killed at least 108 people.

Official media are continuing to pin the blame on a deaf resident of one of the apartment blocks

Two Hebei residents, Lai Fengqin and Wang Yishun, have been detained for allegedly selling explosives to Jin, who remains at large.

However, residents at the scene of the blasts, which hit three dormitories of local cotton mills, said it was unlikely the crime was the individual act of Jin.

They said the explosions might have links to demonstrations earlier last week by laid-off workers of the cottom mills.

Meanwhile, Hebei and Shijiazhuang newspapers reported that Vice Governor He Shaocun had ordered a province-wide security clampdown.

He said all illegal explosives and firearms must be surrendered to the authorities.

At the same time a campaign code-named Strike Hard has kicked off, taretting hardcore criminals and members of underground gangs in the province.

It is understood that President Jiang Zemin and Premier Zhu Rongji had given personal instructions to the investigation team, asking them to crack the case as soon as possible.

China names deaf man as suspect behind 4 blasts

See related sites about Asia

Note: Pages will open in a new browser window

External sites are not endorsed by CNN Interactive.