Despite the hijacking of a tour bus with 10 Australian tourists, China is safe according to foreign ministry spokesman Qin Gang.

“Especially on the occasion of the Beijing Olympics, there will be a number of foreign tourists in Beijing and we will definitely carry out more effective measures in this regard,” Qin Gang told reporters.

With the controversies currently surrounding the Beijing Olympics a hijacking of tour bus filled with foreign tourists is not the kind of news China would like to see leading up the games.

“Compared with other countries, China is a safer destination for foreign tourists and we will continue to provide a sound and safe environment for foreigners to work, study, live and travel in,” Qin said.

Fortunately nobody was seriously injured in the incident. The hijacker was shot by a police sniper.

Mrs Dunkley, 22 who was on the tour bus called her husband in Australia after she was released.

“She just rang and was just bawling her eyes out,” Mr Dunkley said.

“He’d got on the bus and he had explosives strapped to him and he was walking up and down the aisle,” Rhiannon Dunkley’s husband, Joel, said.

“One of the interpreters [told my wife] he was yelling something about letting the bomb off.”

This incident is probably an isolated case and shouldn’t concern anyone planning to go to the Olympic Games in Beijing, but people should be alert and take care of their belongings. Here is a list of common tourist scams in China.

Read more: Hijacker was screaming: hostage