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Suicide Bomber at Chinese Embassy in Kyrgyzstan Kills at Least Three

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Bishkek debris
A firefighter works amidst the debris of buildings destroyed during clashes in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, July 17, 2015. A blast rocked the Chinese embassy in the city on Tuesday morning. Vladimir Pirogov/Reuters
World Kyrgyzstan China Suicide Bombing Attack

A suicide bomber blew himself up in front of the Chinese embassy in Kyrgyzstan, killing at least two security staff members, Russian state news agency RIA Novosti reported on Tuesday.

The country's Deputy Prime Minister Zhenish Razakov said the blast took place at the embassy gates in the capital of Bishkek around 10 a.m. local time on Tuesday, while the country's health ministry reported three bodies had been found at the site—one the assailant and two guards.

Chinese Embassy in Bishkek after blast https://t.co/GEau1IJGKJ 2 pic.twitter.com/Rcht4pBTRo

— АКИpress (@akipress) August 30, 2016

According to Razakov, the guards were not Chinese nationals but Kyrgyz. According to Radio Free Europe, local news outlets have reported that the explosion came as a result of a car bomb, however, this has not been officially confirmed.

The motivations for the attack and the identity of the assailant are being investigated by Kyrgyz law enforcement, who have asked for calm.

Kyrgyzstan's security risks have largely concerned ethnic minority and border disputes with neighbours Uzbekistan and Tajikistan, however, it also shares a large border with China's Xinjiang province and with Kazakhstan.

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