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Hijacker takes 10 Australians hostage in northwest China

A hijacker armed with explosives took a group of Australian tourists and a translator hostage in China yesterday before police shot and killed him, an Australian embassy official and Chinese media reported.

Ten Australians were taken hostage on a tourist bus in Xian, northwest China, but nine were released soon after, said Janaline Oh, spokeswoman for the Australian embassy in Beijing.

"Nine Australian passengers were released and transported to safety and a 48-year-old woman from New South Wales was not released with the rest of the group," she said.

Chinese police agreed to let the hijacker, Xia Tao, change buses and head to the airport before shooting him as he approached a toll station, Xinhua news agency reported, citing the local public security bureau.

Xia was armed with explosives, Xinhua reported.

"Chinese security authorities intervened and secured the release of the woman and the Australian government is pleased the hostages are now safe," Oh said.

Oh said she did not believe the hostages had suffered any injuries.

Xia took the passengers hostage just before 10am and was shot dead at 12:36pm after negotiations failed, the report said, citing the local public security bureau.

It was not clear why he took them hostage.

The 10 Australians flew to Shanghai after the ordeal, where they would be met by the Australian consulate-general in the city, Oh said.

Australian Foreign Affairs Minister Stephen Smith said he was pleased the situation was resolved so quickly and that the hostages were safe.

The Australian embassy in Beijing and the Consulate-General in Shanghai were providing assistance to the Australians involved in the hijack, he said.
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