A Day That Shook The World: Nato accidentally bombs the Chinese embassy

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On 7 May 1999, Nato warplanes on a mission to bomb Belgrade accidentally hit the Chinese embassy, killing three journalists and nearly dragging them into the war on the Serbian side.

Beijing did not believe the attack to be a mistake, so NATO found itself desperately scrabbling to make amends. The diplomatic crisis did not grow into a military one, but it did prolong the Kosovo conflict, causing no small extra friction with an angry China - whose citizens demonstrated in their droves.

Watch original British Pathe footage from the aftermath of the accident above.