The man charged with planting explosive devices at two university canteens and setting them off to become famous has admitted his guilt during an appearance at Beijing No 1 Intermediate People's Court.

But no sentence was passed yesterday on 26-year-old Huang Minxiang for setting the devices at Tsinghua and Peking universities in late February.

The explosions at the universities' dining halls injured nine people and caused 220,000 yuan (US$26,800) in damage.

Huang yesterday confessed to his actions and apologized to the victims.

Public prosecutors said Huang's actions threated public security and caused harm to the public, as well as damaging property.

A victim in the explosion at Tsinghua's Heyuan Dining Hall, Cheng Lie, yesterday asked for a civil action to be brought against Huang.

He asked the court to order Huang to pay compensation of 22,000 yuan (US$2,660).

According to public prosecutors, Huang headed to Beijing on a train on February 21 with explosive powder. He used it to create the explosive devices in a hotel room. They were set off on February 25. Huang fled after the blasts but was later apprehended by police.

No reason was given in court for Huang's actions but previous media reports said he had wanted to "make himself famous."

(China Daily LIU LI 02-04-2003)

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