Outspoken Beijing singer detained over explosion remarks; supporters say she wasn’t serious

BEIJING, China – Chinese police have detained an activist singer after she wrote that she wanted to blow up a government agency seen as inept. Her supporters say the singer would never have carried out her threat and is being targeted for her critical views.

Activist Hu Jia says singer Wu Hongfei was detained Monday by Beijing police on the charge of “causing trouble.” The two activists are friends.

Shortly after a man set off a bomb at Beijing’s airport, Wu wrote on her microblog that she would like to blow up government housing commission offices.

Beijing police did not respond to a request Wednesday to verify Wu’s detention.

New York-based Human Rights Watch said it is likely Wu’s detention was political retribution for her past criticisms of the government.

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