However, earlier on Thursday the police had said Wei was put under arrest soon after the highly powerful blasts ripped through shops, Government offices and hospitals in the county. Intermittent parcel courier blasts continued into the next day even as dozens of packets were seized and detonated by the authorities.

In an attempt to understate the gravity and implications of the incident, the police also said Wei launched the attacks in anger over local conflicts in his village on quarrying rights. However, the magnitude and extent of the explosions belie the argument.

Some years ago the Chinese Post Bureau had imposed a ban on despatch of detonators, explosives, gunpowder, fireworks and certain other items. However, this ban was not definitively attempting to prevent terrorist activities as much as they were of a general nature of averting mishaps in the country that invented the gunpowder centuries ago.

Especially with the booming online shopping business, courier workers in busy Shanghai say, it is difficult to follow the new rules brought in a month ago to make courier checking at despatch and delivery mandatory. Icards were made compulsory to book parcels. Reports say not even 10 per cent of parcels and icards are checked.

All these point to the fact that China is ill-eqipped to handle the new global terror, that is slowly sneaking into the mainland, causing worry for business and leisure travellers. Although impulsive 'revenge bomb' has been a way with the Chinese, it prepares the ground for quick escalation of uncontrolled terror. China may need to take a look outside for expertise. Safety rules are no security insulation.

Meanwhile, the toll in Wednesday's blasts has gone up to 10 with more people succumbing to the wounds suffered in the explosions. Another 50 are still undergoing treartment.

Earlier report: Parcel letter bombs kill 7 in China as Golden Week holiday begins