China’s Foreign Ministry said the hijacking of a tour bus with 10 Australians on board by a Chinese man in Xi’an was not an embarrassment for the country ahead of the Olympics, AP reported. The Australians were taken hostage by a man with bombs strapped to his body, who was eventually shot dead by a police sniper after a three-hour standoff. None of the Australians were harmed. A Foreign Ministry spokesperson stressed that China is a safer destination for tourists than many other countries. Police are still trying to determine the motives of the hijacker, named Xia Tao. Xi’an is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the country and home to the ancient terracotta army.
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