Shanghai police have arrested a man who allegedly tried blackmail a city department store by claiming he had planted explosives.

Zhao Shufa, 29, is alleged to have phoned the No.1 Department Store, saying he had laid explosives there and demanding money last Thursday afternoon, said the Shanghai Municipal Public Security Bureau.

The police evacuated the store and conducted a search, but nothing was found.

Zhao was arrested on Tuesday afternoon on the Ningbo Road in Shanghai, said the bureau. He has been charged with public order offences.

Police claim Zhao said he had quarreled with a worker at the store and had wanted to seek revenge.

(Xinhua News Agency August 24, 2006)